Ambassador Kolker Inaugurates the HIV/AIDS Clinic at Mbarara Hospital

America Days in Mbarara, a showcase of U.S. Government activities and partnerships in Uganda, entered its second day on February 10, 2005, with a visit by Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, local and community leaders, and U.S. Embassy officials to Mbarara Hospital. Participants toured the Hospital’s wards, clinics, and labs and celebrated the inauguration of Mbarara Hospital’s new HIV/AIDS clinic. 

The new clinic at Mbarara Teaching Hospital was built with the support of the U.S. Embassy. Through a $13,000 grant from the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund, the hospital expanded the clinic from a small room and a shipping container to a modern facility with well-equipped examination rooms, private counseling rooms, training rooms, and office space for the clinical staff.

Mbarara Teaching Hospital, in partnership with Mulago Hospital through the Joint AIDS Program, is also benefiting from funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.  With Emergency Plan support, these two hospitals are rapidly expanding their provision of HIV/AIDS services, with over 5,000 tested since April 2004, and over 300 already receiving antiretroviral therapy. 

Since the launch of the Emergency Plan in March 2004, over 33,000 Ugandans have gained access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs.   Over the next four years, that number is slated to increase to more than 170,000.   In 2004, the United States provided over $100 million to Uganda through the Emergency Plan. 

To learn more about the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief please visit: http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/ug1/wwwhpepfarindex.html

For more information about small grants available from the U.S. Embassy, please visit: http://kampala.usembassy.gov/wwwhgrants.html