Team of Ontario Health Professionals to be in Southern Africa by December 1st to Help Fight HIV/AIDS Pandemic

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Tuesday, November 2, 2004

The Change Foundation Provides $500,000 to Fund OHAfrica Lesotho Project

TORONTO – Ontario’s hospitals and partners from across the health system are sending health care professionals to Lesotho to assist in the treatment and care of those living with HIV/AIDS the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) announced today.

“Ontario’s hospitals and partners will have health care professionals on the ground in Lesotho to help treat those with HIV/AIDS, in time for World AIDS Day on December 1st,” said Hilary Short, OHA President and CEO. “We are honoured to have the support of top physicians, nurses and other health professionals from across Ontario in this important initiative,” added Short.

The OHAfrica Lesotho initiative is a partnership between the Ontario Hospital Association and The Change Foundation and was established in response to a challenge issued by Stephen Lewis to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Working with other partners in the health care system, including the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, teams of HIV/AIDS professionals will arrive in Lesotho in December and January to support the country’s efforts to contain and control the spread of this devastating disease.

“Countries around the world share a collective responsibility to extend the fight against HIV/AIDS beyond their own borders, and into those areas where the disease is particularly rampant,” said Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman. “Ontario's health care professionals are among the best in the world, and by going to Lesotho they are demonstrating that they are also among the most committed.”

The team members are:

Dr. Philip Berger, who will be leading the team, and who is Medical Director of the Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Dr. Berger has been at the forefront of treating people with HIV/AIDS since the epidemic began in Toronto;
Dr. Robert Birnbaum, a leading family and travel physician who has done extensive work in Lesotho in providing medical care to patients in remote communities;
Russell Armstrong, Vice President at the Ottawa Hospital and former Executive Director of the Canadian AIDS Society;
Sister Christa Mary Jones, a nurse practitioner with experience working in Southern Africa;
Sally Simpson, RN, ACRN - a Registered Nurse with 15 years of expertise in HIV/AIDS care and currently the Case Manager with the St. Michael's Hospital HIV team;
Dr. Jane Wall, a radiologist with a special interest in the care of people with HIV/AIDS;
Marnie Mitchel, an Ontario pharmacist experienced in implementing HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe; and
Dale McMurchy, OHAfrica project coordinator.

“The crisis of AIDS in Africa is a crisis of leadership in healthcare and St. Michael’s Hospital is proud to demonstrate our leadership by sending some of our most talented people to Lesotho - like Philip Berger who will be leading the team, and Sally Simpson one of our HIV nurses,” said, Jeff Lozon, President & CEO St Michael’s Hospital. “St. Michael’s Hospital is proud to be working with the OHA not only to address the care and treatment of the people infected, but also the social conditions that give rise to the problem.”

As a partner, The Change Foundation has provided $500,000.00 to fund the OHAfrica Lesotho initiative. The Change Foundation was established by the OHA in 1997 with the mandate to promote, support and improve health and health care delivery through four activity areas: applied research, grants for change initiatives, and knowledge transfer through development and education programs.

“We are honoured to be partners in supporting the work of the dedicated health care professionals who are volunteering their time in Lesotho to fight HIV/AIDS,” said Shirlee Sharkey, The Change Foundation Board Chair. “It is our hope that this partnership will spark support from other organizations interesting in joining this important effort.”

In addition to today’s announcement, Main Drug Mart has provided St. Michael’s Hospital with $30,000.00 to be generously donated to the OHA Africa initiative.

Lesotho is among the world’s worst affected countries by HIV and AIDS. Over 30 per cent of the adult population is infected with the disease. Further, it is estimated that there are 92,000 orphans as a result of parents dying of AIDS in Lesotho.

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For further information:
OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1348