OHAfrica to Continue to Help Fight HIV_AIDS in Lesotho
with Renewed Three Year Agreement
Ontario Hospital Association
200 Front Street West, Suite 2800
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
Visit our Web Site: http://www.oha.com
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Toronto – OHAfrica, a joint initiative of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and The Change Foundation, has signed an agreement with the Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that renews a three-year commitment to support the delivery of Lesotho’s National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.
The signing of the agreement took place in Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho, on January 17, 2007. OHAfrica was represented by Murray MacKenzie, a founding director of OHAfrica; Gail Donner, board member of The Change Foundation; and Russell Armstrong, the OHAfrica Team Leader in Lesotho. The Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was represented by Principle Secretary, Mr. Teleko Ramotšoari.
“This agreement will strengthen an already strong partnership that will help to save lives and restore quality of life to thousands living with HIV/AIDS in Lesotho,” said Gail Donner. “It is our hope that with this step, we can continue to help fight against what is surely the world’s biggest health challenge.”
OHAfrica was founded in 2004 with the goal of supporting the introduction of antiretroviral (ARV) drug treatment programs to people living with HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, a nation with the third highest HIV prevalence rate in the world.
OHAfrica’s renewed partnership with the Lesotho government now extends to 2010 and will focus on continuing the delivery of health care at the Tšepong “Place of Hope” Clinic, Lesotho’s largest HIV treatment centre, and assisting in the decentralization of HIV health programs across the Leribe District. The goal is to equip at least 10 community-based health centres with trained nurses who will provide HIV testing, counseling, and full access to life-saving ARV drug treatment.
An OHAfrica team of Canadian health care professionals works with local health care providers at the Tšepong Clinic. Since the OHAfrica initiative was launched, over 6,000 HIV-positive patients have been registered at the clinic and over 2,000 people have been enrolled on lifesaving ARV drug treatment.
“A small group of remarkable Canadians is making a remarkable difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS in this country,” said Murray MacKenzie. “The work of OHAfrica’s team of Canadian health care professionals has been a significant contribution to the implementation of Lesotho’s plan to address this national health crisis.”
For more information about OHAfrica, visit the OHAfrica website at www.ohafrica.ca
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For further information:
OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1371