MINISTRY of Health officials accepted several “vital” pieces of diagnostic equipment, a Media Unit and a sports utility vehicle that are expected to enhance outreach care for HIV/AIDS patients who live in hard to reach areas of the Bahamas.

The equipment is also expected to help local health officials meet some of the “imaging needs” in the Family Islands.

The upgrade was made possible through funding by PEPFAR (the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the United States’ Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

The presentation was made by John Dinkelman, Charge de’ Affaires, United States Embassy, Nassau. Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez accepted on behalf of the government.

“The package included diagnostic mini X-ray equipment that will be used to conduct X-rays for clients in the outreach community areas and on the Family Islands – persons who cannot access the tertiary health facilities,” a statement from the Ministry of Health said.

“This will support the early diagnosis and prevention of tuberculosis and other chest and accidental injuries in a timely fashion, as well as enhance the Ministry of Health’s ability to meet other imaging needs in the Family Islands.”

The sport utility vehicle will be used by the National HIV/AIDS Programme to facilitate greater access to individuals who live in hard-to-reach communities, while the Media Unit – equipped with the latest technology for audio and video production and editing – will be used to produce Public Service Announcements and documentaries to promote HIV/AIDS awareness throughout the Bahamas.

PEPFAR is the United States of America’s initiative to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and is now part of the Global Health Initiative.

Since 2004, PEPFAR has committed more than $30 billion to fight the AIDS epidemic and continues to represent the largest financial commitment by a single country to responding to HIV and AIDS worldwide.

In 2010, the Ministry of Health became engaged in a co-operative agreement with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the partnership for an initial period of five years with variable funding.

The funds have been earmarked to improve prevention strategies, strategic information, and laboratory and health systems.

Thus far, Ministry of Health officials have been able to engage an epidemiologist, a monitoring and evaluation specialist, an information and communications technology (ICT) consultant, a laboratory manager and technician, and an administrative team.

“Contracts have also been initiated to support prevention activities in the community including prevention messaging from conception and design to delivery. A mobile health unit – with the ability to simultaneously provide private consultations in the field with multiple persons, is scheduled to be delivered to the Ministry of Health in early 2013,” Mr Dinkelman said.

“When the government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas became a part of the regional PEPFAR Partnership Framework in June, 2010, the United States viewed the partnership as a bilateral, multi-agency effort and it still does.

“Four US government agencies are currently a part of the PEPFAR Programme in the Bahamas and they are the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Research and Services Administration, the Department of State, and the Agency for International development.

“I am pleased to report that the Centre for Disease Control has been working closely with the National HIV/AIDS Programme of the Bahamas in activities and programmes focused on prevention, strategic information and laboratory and health systems strengthening.

“Additionally, the Health Research and Services Administration is also gearing up to collaborate with its Bahamian counterparts to implement the CHART Programme to provide raining to health providers in HIV care.”