Ontario Hospitals And Partners Propose Comprehensive Response To HIV/AIDS Crisis In Lesotho

Ontario Hospital Association
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Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
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Friday, August 13, 2004

TORONTO – On August 8, 2004 the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and partners completed a fact-finding mission to the Kingdom of Lesotho, as a first step in responding to the challenge made by Stephen Lewis to the OHA, to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

"29 per cent of Lesotho's two million people have HIV/AIDS, and 70 men, women and children die every day from this debilitating disease," said OHA President and CEO Hilary Short. "We will never forget what we saw on our trip because it reinforced the responsibility we have to help ease human suffering and prevent the further spread of this pandemic."

Only three to seven per cent of individuals with AIDS in the country are currently receiving anti-retroviral treatment. This pandemic is compounded by such factors as drought, malnutrition and a high incidence of tuberculosis in the population.

"Lesotho is wrestling with one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, and there is a lack of adequate resources to treat patients including broken and outdated equipment. We are anxious to take the next step together with individual hospitals and other health providers from across the Ontario health system in lending real, substantive assistance in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Lesotho," Short added.

The goal of the OHA HIV/AIDS Initiative is to enable physicians, nurses and pharmacists to provide on-the-ground support and assistance to the government of Lesotho in its fight against HIV/AIDS and the introduction of anti-retroviral treatment. The OHAfrica Steering Committee, chaired by Hume Martin, is meeting on August 25, to confirm OHA's plan of action.

The delegation to Lesotho consisted of Hilary Short, President and CEO of the OHA, Joan Lesmond, President of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and Director of Clinical Programs at the HIV/AIDS treatment hospice, Casey House, and Hume Martin, President and CEO of Rouge Valley Health System, one of Ontario's largest community hospitals.

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For further information:
Anthony Dale, OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1348