WHO Boosts Uganda’s Aids Fight

In a boost to the fight against HIV/Aids in Uganda the World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the use of a viral load diagnostic test m-PIMA HIV-1/2 VL.

The approval means the tool meets WHO standards and can be used to support government and donor efforts to end HIV/Aids by 2030.

m-PIMA HIV-1/2 VL is a portable tool, enabling health workers to easily move it to remote locations. Another advantage is the speed with which it provides results, taking less than 70 minutes to assess the viral load.

Under the current system motorcycle riders transport blood samples to 100 hospitals across the country, which then send them on to a central laboratory for testing. With the new portable tool quick results mean that practitioners can immediately inform patients of the outcome of their tests and make quick decisions about treatment. It will also help health services reach the 10 per cent of the country not covered by the current system.