In The News
A Winnipeg researcher is bringing new hope to AIDS patients in Uganda
October 19, 2004: WINNIPEG (CP) - A new training and treatment institute founded by Winnipeg researcher Dr. Allan Ronald in Uganda is bringing new hope to HIV/AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Infectious Diseases Institute has just opened a $5-million US facility in Kampala for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients and training of physicians to administer and manage antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.
Ronald, a professor at the University of Manitoba and one of the founders of the school's renowned HIV/AIDS research project in Kenya, said the facility will treat more than 300 patients a day while providing leading-edge training to doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals.
The institute hopes to double its current caseload of 3,000 patients, he added.
The widespread administration of ARVs has been a controversial subject in developing countries. The cost of the drugs is often out of the reach of many governments, and there have been concerns about whether patients in developing countries and their physicians can properly manage the complex combination of medications necessary to keep HIV in check.
Although the new facility creates greater capacity, Ronald said he is still struggling to secure donations of the costly drugs. As it stands, only 1,000 of the patients being treated at the institute are able to obtain a full course of ARVs, Ronald said.
``Our mandate states that we are not allowed to turn anyone away,'' said Ronald. ``It's going to be difficult. We really need more drug donations.''
The institute was established three years ago in partnership with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc., which has also contributed $15 million toward construction, staffing and equipment.
To date the institute has been able to train more than 250 physicians from 13 countries in Africa.
(Winnipeg Free Press)
