Abbott has created the new Abbott Fund to work with the Government of Tanzania to modernize all of the country's regional hospital laboratories. Further, the company will donate one million rapid HIV tests to support Tanzania's national HIV testing programme. Miles D White, chairman and CEO of Abbott, joined Tanzania's Minister of Health and Social Welfare, David Mwakyusa in Arusha to dedicate the new Abbott Fund. These new initiatives build on Abbott Fund's $50+ million investment in a unique public-private partnership with the Government of Tanzania to strengthen the country's health care system.

One of the countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, about seven percent of the people in Tanzania are infected with the disease. Resource-limited health care systems, including a lack of modern hospital laboratories and trained lab workers, continue to be key barriers to scaling up HIV testing and treatment for people with HIV.

"Improving the health and health care of our people is a national priority and must involve NGOs, the private sector and international organizations," said Minister Mwakyusa. "With these new programs and the ongoing support of Abbott and Abbott Fund, we are improving our ability to provide basic health care for people in every town and village across the country."

Improving the country's hospital laboratories is fundamental to improving care in Tanzania; these laboratories provide testing services crucial for diagnosis, prevention, treatment and ongoing disease monitoring of HIV/AIDS, as well as diabetes, heart disease and many other conditions.

Abbott Fund has improved the government's national HIV treatment program, expanding HIV testing and treatment capabilities at more than 90 health centres and rural clinics -- bringing HIV care to people in some remote villages for the first time. Through these programs, nearly one in three people on HIV treatment in Tanzania are receiving care at facilities that have benefited from Abbott Fund support. Abbott Fund also recently opened a new program office in Tanzania to manage its extensive HIV/AIDS philanthropic efforts and partnerships in the country. The new office is the first outside Abbott Fund's US headquarters, and the first and only corporate foundation office in Tanzania.

"I'm proud to stand here today, five years since my first visit to Tanzania, to see how far we've come. Yet I recognize the work ahead of us," said Mr. White. "Opening our first corporate foundation office in Dar es Salaam and launching these new initiatives signifies our commitment to continue to work on the ground, side by side with the government and people of Tanzania."

"The modernized laboratory and upgrades in outpatient care have allowed us to provide patients with the right testing and care much faster than before, which has helped us save lives," said Dr. Omar Sharrif Chande, Interim Arusha Regional Medical Officer. "For example, now we're able to provide test results the same day patients see the doctor, instead of waiting days or weeks in the past. This has improved patient care for many people who travel hundreds of kilometers to the hospital."