[procaare] Laboratory professionals in Africa receive training under PEPFAR

["ASCP" <NadineF@ascp.org>]

Laboratory professionals in Africa receive training under AIDS Relief
Plan 
- American Society for Clinical Pathology
***********

Public release date: 28-Sep-2005
Contact: Nadine Filipiak
NadineF@ascp.org
American Society for Clinical Pathology 

CHICAGO (September 28, 2005) - The American Society for Clinical
Pathology (ASCP) announced that the Society will receive approximately
$1.5 million in federal funds to continue to provide laboratory training
and quality improvement programs in African countries severely affected
by AIDS. The training programs are for medical laboratory professionals
in Africa and will continue in 2006 through the President's Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief. 

The funding comes from the United States Department of Health and Human
Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC). The money
will allow the Chicago-based ASCP to continue its involvement in a
cooperative agreement program with CDC. ASCP's role in the program is to
provide laboratory training and quality improvement programs for
diagnosis and laboratory monitoring of HIV/AIDS patients in
resource-limited countries as part of the Emergency Plan. 

"Ultimately, this program will serve to enhance laboratory testing
practices and the quality of laboratory testing services, in order to
improve the effectiveness of HIV diagnostic, care, and treatment
services and interventions," said LoAnn Peterson, MD, FASCP, ASCP
President. The award will be made for a 12-month budget period, within a
project period of up to four years. 

The Emergency Plan is a $15 billion international relief effort. In
addition to Ethiopia and Zambia, targeted nations include Botswana,
Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa,
Tanzania, Uganda, Haiti, Guyana, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Viet
Nam. ASCP will be working in Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia,
Lesotho and Swaziland. 

In the past year, 14 ASCP volunteer members have played roles assessing
the situation in Africa, serving as trainers, and participating in Work
Groups developing training materials. 

Estimates are that some 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in
developing nations. In Zambia, for instance, some 1.2 million people are
affected by the condition. The disease has affected nearly one in five
adults and orphaned 650,000 children. In Ethiopia, government officials
estimate that more than four million citizens are infected with the HIV
virus and about one-third of all Ethiopian hospital beds are occupied by
HIV carriers. 


For more information, visit
www.ascp.org/Downloadables1/WebTextItems/10299.asp.