U.S. government hands over two renovated TPDF Laboratories at Makambako Dispensary and Mbalizi Military Hospital

 

The U.S. Defense Attache LTC Gerald Mathis (third from right), WRAIR Country Director Mark Breda (second from right), and HJFMRI Executive Director Sally Chalamila (first from right) handing over the symbolic key of the newly renovated TPDF laboratories to the Brigadier General Charles Mwanziva (third from left), Commanding Officer MH Mbalizi Lt. Col. Seth Mwasambogo (second from left), and Commanding Officer Makambako Lt. Col. Lucy Murhewa (on the left) at Mbalizi military hospital.

 

The U.S. Defense Attache in a group photo after handover of the renovated laboratories to TPDF. In the photo, from right to left are seated: Dr. Elizabeth Nyema (RMO Mbeya),  Sally Chalamila (HJFMRI Executive Director), Mark Breda (WRAIR Country Director), LTC Gerald Mathis (U.S. Defense Attache), Brigadier General Charles Mwanziva, Lt. Col. Seth Mwasambogo (Commanding Officer MH Mbalizi), Lt. Col. Lucy Murhewa (Commanding Officer Makambako), and Col. Kotta (Base Commander military hospital Mbeya).

 

Mbeya, Tanzania, The U.S. government, through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR-DoD) handed over two renovated laboratory buildings at Makambako Dispensary in Njombe Region and Mbalizi Military Hospital in Mbeya Region to the Tanzania Peoples Defense Forces (TPDF). The handover ceremony, held at the Mbalizi Military Hospital, was honored by the presence of Brigadier General (BG) of TPDF Charles Mwanziva, the U.S. Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy, LTC Gerald Mathis, WRAIR-DoD Country Director in Tanzania, Mark Breda, and Henry M. Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI) Executive Director, Sally Talike Chalamila.

 

The U.S. government, through PEPFAR is the largest supporter of HIV/AIDS relief in Tanzania. Today, PEPFAR in Tanzania supports more than 1.5 million people on lifesaving treatment. WRAIR-DoD has been operating in Tanzania since 1999, working to end HIV through research and the implementation of PEPFAR prevention, care, and treatment programs for civilian and military populations. Since 2006, the U.S. has provided life-saving treatment to a total of 23,730 clients 88 percent of whom are virally suppressed and can no longer transmit the disease.

 

At the event, BG Charles Mwanziva said “I thank WRAIR-DoD from the American Embassy, the funders of the HJFMRI project, who are successfully implementing various HIV interventions in our 21 military health centers. I am pleased that the Defense Attaché from the American Embassy, LTC Gerard Mathis has joined us here today. This demonstrates the strong cooperation between the U.S. Department of Defense and the TPDF.”

 

At the event, the U.S. Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy, LTC Gerald Mathis said, “Through funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), WRAIR-DoD will continue to support the TPDF in the provision of quality HIV/AIDS services at all 21 supported military facilities throughout Tanzania to attain the 95/95/95 UNAIDS goals and achieve HIV epidemic control by 2030.”

 

At the event, WRAIR-DoD Country Director in Tanzania, Mark Breda pledged to “continue supporting this program to significantly strengthen TPDF laboratory testing capacity and help ensure appropriate treatment, which in turn will save lives”.