Government to equip health facilities in three southwestern towns

The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) has announced that it will equip health institutions in three towns in the southwestern province of Mambere Kadei with HIV/AIDS research centres and other facilities, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Friday. It added that the government would also establish centres for voluntary AIDS screening, regional centres for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, a blood bank, and blood transfusion centres in the health facilities in the towns of Berberati, Gambaoula and Carnot, respectively 188 and 281 km southwest of the capital, Bangui. The announcement followed a visit to Berberati by a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Health, the UN World Health Organisation, the UN Children's Fund and the National Committee to Fight AIDS. The radio reported that the delegation held talks with local government officials and NGO representatives involved in HIV/AIDS awareness on the installation of the new health facilities. According to government estimates, the populations of Berberati, Gamboula and Carnot have 24 percent, 5 percent and 34 percent of HIV prevalence rates, respectively. Several HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns have been conducted in the province in the recent past. Members of the visiting delegation advised local NGOs and religious associations to be more involved in sensitising the public on voluntary AIDS screening and blood donation. Radio Centrafrique reported that another mission, led by officials of the National Committee to Fight AIDS, was in Ippy in Ouaka Province, 500 km northeast of Bangui, to sensitise the public on voluntary HIV/AIDS screening and prevention.