Kabarole district council has announced plans to purchase four new CD4 count machines. The council says the new equipment is intended to help the district better manage the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
CD4 cells are the main targets of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As the impact of the virus in the body progresses, CD4 cells decrease. This weakens the immune system, making it unable to protect the body from illness and infection.
CD4 count machines test the cell levels in the body. If the cells drop below 200, a person is classified as having AIDS. The test enables doctors to determine the progress of the disease and to prescribe anti-retroviral treatment.
Studies from Kabarole district have found that the HIV prevalence there is on the rise. It currently stands at 12 percent, making it only second to Rakai in terms of new HIV infections.
Irene Linda the Kabarole secretary for community development says the available CD4 count machines are too few to deal with the demand from new HIV patients. She says the district council needs 16 million shillings to buy new machines for Fort Portal Referral Hospital and health centers in Kibiito, Bukuuku and Kataraka to deal with the pandemic.
Linda says this will increase the access to HIV services and will reduce the cost of obtaining a comprehensive diagnosis.
Kabarole district currently has no money to purchase the machines. The district council resolved to lobby partner organizations in the Rwenzori region to raise the funds needed for the new equipment.
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