In The News
Museveni to Open Aids Institute
October 19, 2004: New Vision, By Barbara Bitangaro (Kampala) - Mulago hill is alive with activity as scientists and public health workers prepare to launch the new multi-million-dollar Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) tomorrow.
"The new building houses a state-of-the-art laboratory certified to do trials that are acceptable to international regulatory authorities," Keith McAdam, the Director of the Institute and Emeritus Professor of Tropical Medicine at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in an interview yesterday.
"The laboratory facility will support clinical research to be conducted to determine treatment protocols with the greatest efficacy and cost effectiveness within African settings," he said.
The IDI will be involved with improving HIV/AIDS care through the provision of clinical care, research and training. It has well-equipped training facilities, a library and excellent IT connectivity and operates two adult and paediatric clinics.
To date IDI has trained over 200 physicians from 13 countries in Africa in its month-long course on enhanced management of HIV including the use of antiretrovirals.
McAdam said the structure, "which was set up largely with the funding of Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company, was a brilliant way of bringing scientists from Africa together with those from resource-rich countries."
Hank Mckinnell, the Pfizer Chief Executive Officer, Professor Merle Sande, Board Chairman AAF and Pat Christen, President Pangaea, are visiting to participate in the launch of the IDI.
The IDI is a project of the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa (AAACP), an alliance of five North American scientists and nine Ugandan scientists aimed at consolidating HIV/AIDS care and treatment in Africa. Makerere University and Mulago Hospital are senior partners in the alliance. Luke Nkinsi, Global Health Programme, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation representative and a team of internationally renowned researchers will review AAACP project activities.
Scientists from different organisations will today take part in what has been code-named 'Celebrating a Partnership.' This involves scientists and care providers from different organisations in the country giving presentations about their activities.
"This day aims at understanding what key partners are doing and sharing experiences of what has been achieved by different partnerships," said Professor Fred Wabwire-Mangen, Board chairman AAF. President Yoweri Museveni will cut the tape to the new complex at Mulago Hospital tomorrow in the presence of stakeholders and scientists dealing with HIV treatment, prevention and care from North America, Europe and the rest of Africa.
On Friday there will be a Gates Grant Scientific meeting where key scientific presentations that show results will be presented.
"My vision is that the IDI should be an outstanding centre in the region for clinical care and training and this should spread through Africa as a centre of excellence for Training the Trainer," McAdam said.
Prevention has been the cornerstone of Uganda's HIV activities plus a strong element of care and support across a continuum (hospitals, health centres, community, NGOs).
With prevalence rates of over 30% in 1992 at various sentinel surveillance sites, Uganda has managed to bring down its infection rates to as low as 5.6% at some sites.
