HUNDREDS OF Jamaicans are expected to benefit from new hi-tech machinery that was presented to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) on Tuesday.
The flow cytometry system was officially presented to the NPHL by the Rotary Club of Kingston, which had targeted HIV/AIDS as its area of focus for 2003/04.
Dr. Evadney Williams, director of the NPHL, welcomed the new machine that should expand the range of services the laboratory offers to the public. The machine will assist medical doctors to monitor the care they give to HIV/AIDS patients.
"The machine will allow us to look at the cells affected by the virus and look at the number of cells affected," Dr. Williams explained.
She said the information would be provided to doctors who will then be able to determine the necessary type of treatment for their patients.
EDUCATION AND
PREVENTION CAMPAIGN
The cytometer, in addition to an education and prevention campaign, was provided at a cost of $11 million. The machine will also be used to test for haematological conditions including leukaemia.
Apart from the Rotary Club, other major contributors were the CHASE Fund, Rotary Club of Naples North Florida and numerous local businesses.
According to Dr. Williams, the service is expected to be available within the next six weeks when planned training of medical personnel at the laboratory to use the machine has been completed. The equipment, which was sourced by Scientific and Medical Supplies, will also be maintained by the company. During this year 500 persons are expected to benefit from the services offered by the machine. This number is expected to grow to 2,800 by 2008.
