Thanks to Carolyne for this update:

International Medical Foundation has been working with Kasese Cobalt Company Limited since October 2006 to provide basic health services to the poor living in three communities close to the KCCL facility in Kasese, West Uganda; Muhokya, Kahendero and Hamukungu.

This programme has been supported by Health Initiatives For The Private Sector, HIPS, a USAID funded project.

Together we have provided HIV voluntary counselling and testing to 4,151 adults, of which 638 tested positive. We have enrolled 467 onto our treatment and care programme and currently 161 are receiving anti-retroviral therapy, ART.

Those enrolled are able to have regular health checks, including a CD4 test which provides a clinical indication of the strength, or weakness, of their immunity system. When the CD4 count has fallen to a given threshold the client is then started on ART.

From time-to-time we are able to provide other health related support, such as these, which we were able to provide in 2011 thanks to the additional funds from HIPS:

Sometimes of course it doesn’t work out and sadly in 2011, 17 of those enrolled on ART died from AIDS related conditions. These individuals joined our programme too late for the treatment to make a long-lasting impact on their infection. That’s why its important that we continue to conduct regular, community based, outreach in which we can provide health education and encourage people to come forward and be tested, before they start to feel sick.

The programme is, we think, a good example of how companies and agencies can work together, sharing cost, resources and expertise, to provide life-changing health services to those that need it most.