Cleveland Plain Dealer in Three-Part Series Examines Collaborative HIV/AIDS Program in Uganda
The Cleveland Plain Dealer this week in a three-part series examined a collaborative HIV/AIDS program between Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Makerere University in Uganda. Summaries of the articles appear below:
- "Inspiration Brings Life-Changing Decision": Although Case Western and Makerere 17 years ago launched the first international partnership for HIV/AIDS research in Kampala, Uganda, on a "shoestring" budget, it currently is one of the "longest-running academic AIDS collaborations in the developing world," according to the Plain Dealer. The program focuses on behavioral health issues, AIDS-related cancers, mother-to-child HIV transmission and the link between HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (McEnery, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/21). The complete article is available online.
- "Tracking a Killer's Helper": After TB was identified as the "biggest threat" to people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, Case Western and Makerere launched the Tuberculosis Research Clinic in 1994, which has enrolled about 9,000 men, women and children to participate in studies to treat and control TB, the Plain Dealer reports. Case Western also administers one of the "longest-running and most complex" community health studies tracking TB bacteria and has "joined the hunt" for a more effective vaccine and new treatments for the disease, according to the Plain Dealer (McEnery, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/22). The complete article is available online.
- "Focus Turns to Affordable Treatment": The recent "flow" of "emergency AIDS dollars" from programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria into Uganda has "prompted" Case Western to "refocus its goals and methods," the Plain Dealer reports. While the increasing availability of antiretroviral drug therapy has become a "turning point" in Uganda's "long battle against AIDS," new studies plan to address the effects of treating TB and HIV/AIDS simultaneously, according to the Plain Dealer (McEnery, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/23). The complete article is available online.