Uganda opens groundbreaking HIV/AIDS treatment centre

A new medical facility providing state-of-the-art training and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases has opened its doors in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

It is hoped that 300 HIV/AIDS patients will be treated a day at the facility. One of the greatest challenges today is providing care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS. Specialists from across the African continent will receive training at the institute. Uganda has been at the forefront of research into HIV/AIDS, including attempts to find a vaccine. Patients at the centre will be enrolled in a number of clinical research studies. Whilst Uganda is viewed as a country which has made great strides in tackling the HIV/AIDS problem, accessing the lifesaving anti-retroviral drugs still remains a dream for most. (Source: BBC Health, Oct 2004)