American People Sponsor New Reproductive and Child Health Center at Lugalo

On May 24, residents of Mwenge gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the new Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Center at Lugalo Military Hospital sponsored by the American people.  The modern center represents another milestone in the District of Mwenge, providing free mother and child health services including Prevention-of Mother-to-Child-Transmission (PMTCT), Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), and HIV testing and counseling services to more than 100,000 area civilian and military residents.

Reduction of maternal and infant mortality, malaria and HIV infections are key priorities for the United States in Tanzania under the Global Health Initiative (GHI).  The new health center will have a capacity of 90 beds and enhance antenatal/postnatal services and outpatient services for children under five years of age. 

The clinic also provides HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), and Prevention of Maternal-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) to more than 1,000 women per month, most of whom are civilians.  It is also expected to become a Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF) national training center for pediatric HIV.

The clinic’s inauguration was presided over by the Guest of Honor, Commanding General of the United States Medical Research and Materiel Command, Brigadier General Joseph Caravalho, and TPDF Chief of Defense Forces General Davis Mwamunyange.

In his speech, Brigadier General Caravalho lauded the partnership between both nations, adding "this modern Reproductive and Child Health Center sponsored by the American people will provide critical, life saving services to large numbers of Tanzanians from civilian and military communities."  Inauguration activities also included a tour of the facilities, which was followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting. 

The RCH center was funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Pharmaccess International (PAI). 

Since 2004, Tanzania has received more than $2.2 billion (3.2 trillion Tanzanian shillings) in support from PEPFAR in the areas of HIV and AIDS care and treatment, prevention, impact mitigation, and health systems strengthening.

Through WRAIR, DOD works with the TPDF to help ensure that all men and women who serve in the Tanzanian military remain HIV-negative throughout their military career.

This comprehensive program serves servicemen and women, their dependents, and civilians living near military posts and barracks.  The inauguration of this new health center underscores the partnership between the United States of America and the United Republic of Tanzania to fulfill our common vision of a “Tanzania free of HIV.”

·         SOURCE: US Embassy, DSM

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