BD/PEPFAR Lab-Strengthening Initiative Marks Progress in Fight Against HIV/AIDS and TB in Sub-Saha...(lture testing systems that identify drug...),Health

In Mozambique, BD has worked with CDC-Mozambique and the American Society for Clinical Pathology to provide phlebotomy training for healthcare workers. Additionally, to help improve the quality of lab diagnostics, BD worked closely with the Mozambique Ministry of Health and CDC-Mozambique to deliver training in quality management and in the assessment of laboratory capabilities.

In Uganda, South Africa and Mozambique, BD is working on the ground with Ministries of Health, National Reference Laboratories and various implementing partners to expand high-quality laboratory services.

Scientists and lab technicians participating in the training programs serve a total of eight sub-Saharan nations representing an overall population of 336 million people. The countries' national TB prevalence rates range from 426 to 692 infections per 100,000 people, while national HIV/AIDS rates range from 2.1 to 23.9 percent.

BD and PEPFAR announced their progress report at the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention held July 19-22 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The first of its kind, public-private PEPFAR-BD collaboration was launched through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties on October 31, 2007. The five-year initiative's programmatic elements include:

• Supporting country-specific programs working on the ground to develop overarching integrated laboratory systems, services, and quality improvement strategies
• Improving the quality of laboratory diagnostics critical to the management of HIV/AIDS patients through training health personnel
• Implementing quality-control and quality-assurance guidelines and supervisory tools for hematology, chemistry, CD
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