Project Zimbabwe Mutoko

Transcription

1 Project Zimbabwe Mutoko Project up date April

2 Zimbabwe 2

3 Project Zimbabwe The problem: AIDS Zimbabwe is dying of AIDS. Zimbabwe is the worst hit country in Africa. Every 4 in 10 people have AIDS. Life expectancy has dropped to 38 yrs HIV positive child s life expectancy 7 yrs. A person dies of HIV every minute MORE than 1 in 5 children will be orphaned in There are approx 1 million orphans in Zimbabwe due to the AIDS pandemic. 3

4 Project Zimbabwe How can this happen? BEHAVIOUR: condoms don t prevent HIV STIGMA denial: confusion with other manifestations of poverty Unlike other diseases, AIDS kills the young and the strong Annual health budget $8 per person 4

5 Geographic Location Zimbabwe 5

6 How can we let these children suffer like this? Can we let their parents die? 6

7 The tragedy unfolding in this country is really too much to bear and we have to keep cool nerves to survive and be useful. 7

8 Now we are completely without fuel and also without cash in the bank. 8

9 What is being done to help? Luisa Guidotti Hospital Those suffering from AIDS are repetitively being turned away from other hospitals. The Luisa Guidotti Hospital welcomes these people. Caring for AIDS patients and children who have been orphaned, abandoned and abused. It operates the first and ONLY FREE Antiretroviral programme treatment for AIDS patients in Zimbabwe. 9

10 What we have to work with: Hospital Facilities: General Services: 2 doctors, 25 trained nurses, 15 attendants Pediatric ward (43 beds) Maternity ward (40 beds, one delivery room and one nursery) Male ward (29 beds) Female ward (16 beds) AIDS and isolation ward (16 beds) One radiophone One computer One x-ray machine, no x-ray protection shield Donated medication Frequent power cuts Two landcruisers Zero Infrastructure Nearest town: Harare (168 km) 10

11 The Road is long but thanks to the combined efforts of & and friends progress is being made. Lives are being saved. 11

12 The AIDS treatment At April 22nd, 2004, the program HAART put in place by the Luisa Guidotti Hospital with drugs provided by our Charity is taking care of 530 people, consisting of: children adults, 10 of which are mothers under PMTCT PLUS program. Following the WHO guidelines, it aims to make the PMTCT PLUS programme (Prevention of mother to child transmission plus treatment of the mother) available to a sizeable number of mothers. Stanford University of California CD4 analysis Triple combination therapy Videx-Zerit Nevirapine Lamivudine-Zidovudine 12

13 Two patients with Dr. Spagnolli The baby was treated with Nevirapine at birth and the mother is undergoing antiretroviral treatment 13

14 What has been achieved? 2002: Our aim was to provide medical care and hospital treatment to 100 patients. We succeeded in caring for 150! July 2003: 229 patients at our door. Financial ability to care for 200. By the end of July: We managed to source Antiretroviral generic drugs which cost 1/3 of the price of previously used drugs - allowing us to gradually treat more patients. (Currently unsuitable for children) At year end 2003 In excess of 400 patients were under care! The Guidotti hospital has reached an agreement where doctors recently graduated from the University of Catania, specialising in virology, can intern with Dr. Spagnolli and his team. Thereby, starting from April 2004, providing bilateral benefits. RBO succeeded in establishing a relationship between the L. Guidotti Hospital and the Stanford University in California. They are jointly aiming for a more cost effective and therefore more accessible method of conducting HIV analysis (CD4) At April 22nd, 2004 the program HAART put in place by the Luisa Guidotti Hospital with drugs provided by our Charity is taking care of 530 people RBO purchased and supplied much laboratory equipment (including a Field CD4 Count Apparatus). Now on its way, by container, from Italy. 14

15 Patients with Dr. Spagnolli The little girl at the left, 8, became blind at 1 as a consequence of AIDS and now lives at St.Marcellino Village, another of Dr.Spagnolli s initiatives 15

16 You could be a part of this miracle 16

17 In 2004 we hope to treat in excess of 500 patients With your kind help we will 17