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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
6.27.2007 - 10:21am ET
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Abbott and Abbott Fund Expand Commitment to Improving Health Care in Tanzania With Dedication of New Lab and Launch of New Diagnostic Programs
Abbott Fund Will Upgrade All of Tanzania's Regional Hospital Laboratories, and Abbott to Provide 1 Million Free Rapid HIV Tests
(CSRwire) ARUSHA, TANZANIA- June 27, 2007 — Abbott's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer Miles D. White joined Tanzania's Minister of Health and Social
Welfare the Hon. David Mwakyusa in Arusha today to dedicate the new Abbott
Fund-supported laboratory at Mt. Meru Hospital. Mr. White also today
announced two new initiatives that will improve overall access to health
care, and expand access to HIV testing and care throughout Tanzania.
Specifically, Mr. White noted that Abbott Fund will work with the
Government of Tanzania to modernize all of the country's regional hospital
laboratories. He also announced that Abbott will donate 1 million rapid
HIV tests to support Tanzania's national HIV testing program.
Like many countries in Africa, Tanzania continues to face significant
health care challenges. Life expectancy in the country is 48 years –
about 30 years less than many European countries. In addition, Tanzania
has just one doctor for every 24,000 patients. One of the countries
hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, about seven percent of the people in Tanzania are
infected with the disease. Resource-limited health care systems, including
a lack of modern hospital laboratories and trained lab workers, continue to
be key barriers to scaling up HIV testing and treatment for people with
HIV.
"Improving the health and health care of our people is a national priority
and must involve NGOs, the private sector and international organizations,"
said Minister Mwakyusa. "With these new programs and the ongoing support
of Abbott and Abbott Fund, we are improving our ability to provide basic
health care for people in every town and village across the country."
Improving the country's hospital laboratories is fundamental to improving
care in Tanzania; these laboratories provide testing services crucial for
diagnosis, prevention, treatment and ongoing disease monitoring of
HIV/AIDS, as well as diabetes, heart disease and many other conditions.
These new initiatives build on Abbott Fund's $50+ million investment in a
unique public-private partnership with the Government of Tanzania to
strengthen the country's health care system. Abbott Fund has improved the
government's national HIV treatment program, expanding HIV testing and
treatment capabilities at more than 90 health centers and rural clinics
— bringing HIV care to people in some remote villages for the first
time. Through these programs, nearly one in three people on HIV treatment
in Tanzania are receiving care at facilities that have benefited from
Abbott Fund support. Abbott Fund also recently opened a new program
office in Tanzania to manage its extensive HIV/AIDS philanthropic efforts
and partnerships in the country. The new office is the first outside
Abbott Fund's U.S. headquarters, and the first and only corporate
foundation office in Tanzania.
"I'm proud to stand here today, five years since my first visit to
Tanzania, to see how far we've come. Yet I recognize the work ahead of
us," said Mr. White. "Opening our first corporate foundation office in
Dar es Salaam and launching these new initiatives signifies our commitment
to continue to work on the ground, side by side with the government and
people of Tanzania."
Modernized Hospital Laboratory Dedicated at Mt. Meru Hospital
The newly modernized laboratory at Mt. Meru Hospital dedicated today,
along with upgrades at the outpatient clinic and extensive training of
staff, will improve care for 4 million people across the Arusha region.
The hospital can now provide automated testing crucial for the diagnosis
and continued monitoring of HIV/AIDS and many other diseases.
Improvements have tripled capacity at the laboratory, which is now able to
serve up to 150 patients each day versus just 45 patients prior to the
renovations. In addition, specialized Abbott employee volunteers have
provided technical training and support for lab staff and clinicians.
"The modernized laboratory and upgrades in outpatient care have allowed us
to provide patients with the right testing and care much faster than
before, which has helped us save lives," said Dr. Omar Sharrif Chande,
Interim Arusha Regional Medical Officer. "For example, now we're able to
provide test results the same day patients see the doctor, instead of
waiting days or weeks in the past. This has improved patient care for
many people who travel hundreds of kilometers to the hospital."
Abbott Fund to Help Modernize Hospital Laboratories Across
Tanzania
Expanding on the work already completed at the Mt. Meru laboratory and
extensive earlier lab renovations at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es
Salaam, Abbott Fund is now committing to upgrade all of Tanzania's regional
hospital laboratories. Improvements, which will depend on each hospital's
needs, may include renovating labs and training staff in lab management,
and instrument use and maintenance.
Test Donation Part of Abbott's Leadership in HIV Testing Across
Africa
Abbott also today announced a donation of 1 million rapid HIV tests. The
free tests will support the new national HIV testing campaign recently
announced by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
Since 2001, Abbott has provided rapid HIV tests at no profit to any
organization providing quality voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT)
services in 69 countries, including all of Africa and the world's Least
Developed Countries. With rapid HIV testing, any hospital or program in a
remote setting can obtain results regardless of access to laboratory
equipment or electricity. To date, Abbott has shipped more than 70
million rapid HIV tests across Africa at no profit.
Abbott also is the only company that donates rapid HIV tests to prevent
mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in 69 countries. Enabling
pregnant women to learn their HIV status is a critical step in achieving
prevention – local programs can then provide HIV-positive women with
free and convenient treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV to their
children. To date, Abbott has donated more than 5 million rapid HIV tests
to PMTCT programs across Africa.
About Abbott Fund in Tanzania
Earlier this month, the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) honored Abbott Fund with an Award for
Business Excellence for National Action for its public-private partnership
with the Government of Tanzania to fight HIV/AIDS. Since 2001, the Abbott
Fund initiative has made significant progress in strengthening Tanzania's
health care system. In addition to the work at Mt. Meru Hospital, key
results to date include:
Built a new outpatient center and renovated a clinical laboratory
building at Muhimbili National Hospital, serving hundreds of patients a
day;
Trained more than 10,000 health care workers;
Provided HIV counseling and testing for more than 150,000 people;
and
Helped more than 150,000 children and families by providing access
to health services, education and training, and pioneering legal
protection for orphans and widows affected by HIV/AIDS.
About Abbott Global AIDS Care Programs
For more than 20 years, Abbott has made a significant contribution to the
fight against HIV/AIDS through the development of innovative tests and
medicines. Expanding on its scientific contributions, Abbott and Abbott
Fund have invested more than $100 million in developing countries to
improve the lives of people affected by HIV/AIDS through programs
targeting critical areas of need, including strengthening health care
systems, supporting children affected by HIV/AIDS, preventing
mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and advancing HIV testing and
treatment. For more information on these programs, please visit www.abbottglobalcare.org.
About Abbott and Abbott Fund
Abbott Fund is a philanthropic foundation established by Abbott in 1951.
The Fund's mission is to create healthier global communities by investing
in creative ideas that promote science, expand access to health care and
strengthen communities worldwide. For more information, visit www.abbottfund.org.
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the
discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and
medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The
company employs 65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130
countries. Abbott's news releases and other information are available on
the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.
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