UPenn celebrates 10 years in Botswana

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday November 2, 2011 00:00

 

Addressing the media yesterday, the founder of the partnership and Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UPenn, Harvey Friedman, said that as a research institution focusing specifically on HIV and AIDS-related complications, tuberculosis (TB), cervical cancer and pneumonia, they have contributed tremendously to the health care system in Botswana. He said that since he first established the partnership in Botswana 10 years ago, they have been engaged in research, education and providing clinical care for patients who had developed complications arising from HIV and AIDS. 'It is important to study these diseases and we are doing this in partnership with the University of Botswana and the Ministry of Health.

We work on complicated diseases like cervical cancer and TB,' he said. He said that they have provided training to medical specialists and that this has increased the number of specialists in the country. 'When we first came here, we brought along only four infectious disease specialists who worked on three months' periods but to date we have 12 such doctors who are here on a permanent basis,' he said, adding that some of the doctors are foreigners while others are locals. Most of these doctors are based in Gaborone while some are based in health district centres dealing with complicated diseases for children and adults.

The institution has 60 local employees working as laboratory technicians, nurses and assistant nurses. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funds the UPenn Partnership through CDC Botswana or Botswana-USA partnership (BOTUSA). Currently, they have five major research projects related to TB/HIV, drug resistant diseases; TB in children; cervical cancer screening on HIV infected women and an e-health program. He said that through e-health they have managed to take improved health care services to remote areas where it would normally be difficult to meet a medical specialist.

Doctors and nurses at districts take pictures of symptoms like skin rash and x-ray pictures and e-mail them to specialists at referral hospitals using cell-phones. 'There is only one dental surgeon in the country and this is a great device we have because now he can help other doctors in the country. Pictures are sent to him and he at the same time is able to send comments back and help diagnose diseases,' he said. There are 33 e-health facilities located in Kanye, Lobatse, Francistown, Mahalapye and Mochudi. 'It is our wish to take it to other places like Gantsi, Hukuntsi, and Tsabong in the second phase whic next year,' he said.