PEPFAR Supports Major Renovation at St. Peter’s Tuberculosis (TB) Specialized Hospital

March 13, 2007

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), officially launched today newly renovated sections of St. Peter’s TB Specialized Hospital to better serve Ethiopians. Renovated areas include HIV counseling and testing units, TB/HIV and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinics, an Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs dispensary unit and pharmacy store. The renovation is a collaborative effort between partners funded by Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the major implementers of PEPFAR in Ethiopia.

The Minister of Health Dr. Tedros Adhanom and U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Janet Wilgus delivered remarks at the event, and inaugurated the renovated sections of the hospital.

With funding through CDC, Johns Hopkins University renovated and furnished the client waiting area, TB/HIV and ART clinics of St. Peter’s. Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus, funded by USAID, renovated and furnished the ARV drugs dispensary unit and pharmacy store. The newly renovated facilities will improve the chronic space problem faced by the hospital.

The PEPFAR partners have trained hospital staff in TB/HIV co-management, ART service delivery, and ARV drug supply management system. Standard Operating Procedures and recording and reporting formats have been developed. Computers for data entry and analysis have also been donated through the PEPFAR program. Clinical mentors and supportive supervision have also been an important part of the renovation to improve services.

The hospital has provided HIV counseling and testing service for all TB patients since September 2005, through support provided by PEPFAR. So far, 3,338 newly diagnosed TB patients have been counseled and tested for HIV, out of which over 50% were found to be HIV positive. There are 1,210 patients currently on ARV drugs and the clinic has handled a total of 7,177 clinic visits. There is sufficient stock of ARV drugs for over 1,000 patients for the next six months.

For more information, contact Jason Hefner, PEPFAR Country Coordinator at 011-5174101.