Medicines San Frontiers (MSF) on Wednesday announced the phasing out of the organisation’s HIV and AIDS project in Chiradzulu after working in the district for 25 years.
MSF made the announcement during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting. It commended the Council for the overwhelming support during their stay in the district.
MSF Medical Focal Point for Chiradzulu HIV Project, Dr Ishaq Saad, said when the project was rolled out in 1996, the district had the highest number of patients dying from HIV complicated diseases and the trend has been reduced tremendously thereby achieving their intended objectives.
“With the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS goal of having at least 90 percent of HIV infected patients diagnosed and should be under care including Anti-Retroviral drugs which will make the 90 percent viral load suppressed, we have managed to get 90 to 90 percent target. This means we have achieved that goal,” said Saad.
According to Saad some of MSF achievements for the past 25 years of work under the project include viral load suppression, capacity building among medical personnel on managing advanced HIV diseases and maintenance of medical equipment in the laboratory.
He said the project also introduced point of care points which helped to bring the testing centres closer to the patients at Namitambo, Milepa and Chiradzulu District Hospital.
Chiradzulu District Council Director of Planning and Development, Henderson Kaumi commended MSF for its support towards the health sector in the district especially in hard-to-reach areas where the council could not manage to provide services consistently.
He said the organisation’s work done for the past 25 years is visible and clear for everyone to see.
“I wish you all the best wherever you are going. I appreciate the provision of effective treatment and testing for HIV and AIDS which was a challenge in the district,” said Kaumi.
MSF is an international independent humanitarian organisation which is present in over 70 countries across the world. It intervenes in epidemics, pandemics and disaster cases.
By Clarabella Chipolonga
