Prof. Ruedi Lüthys Newlands Clinic serving as model clinic in Zimbabwe
Zurich/Harare, 10 September 2013 Swiss Aids Care International, and Newlands Clinic which it runs, have achieved a further milestone in improving HIV treatment in Zimbabwe. The globally active non-profit organisation Population Services International (PSI) is to open four clinics based on the Newlands Clinic model in 2013. Newlands Clinic will train the staff, and will support PSI with the overall concept, implementation, mentorship and quality assurance. The first two clinics were opened recently; the third clinic is set to open today.
More and more organisations and clinics are showing interest in the unique treatment concept offered by Newlands Clinic, which is tailored to the specific circumstances in developing countries. With PSI, Newlands Clinic has now entered into its first cooperation. Under this agreement, Newlands Clinic will support PSI in the overall concept and implementation, and will provide comprehensive training in HIV management for the doctors and nurses. Two of the four planned PSI clinics were opened in Harare and Bulawayo in May and July, followed by the third clinic in Mutare today. The fourth is set to open in Masvingo by the end of 2013.
Prof. Ruedi Lüthy, Director of Newlands Clinic said: We are proud that the Newlands Clinic treatment model is being emulated and will now also be used in other clinics. We have been very impressed with the dedicated commitment shown by PSIs local staff. The opening of the four clinics will benefit many more HIV patients who are unable to afford treatment. This is a further key step in our efforts to provide the country with lasting support in the fight against AIDS.
Dr Karin Hatzold, Deputy Director of PSI Zimbabwe said: We were inspired by the high quality, the concept of comprehensive HIV care and treatment, the nurse driven model and the excellent patient data management system that Newlands Clinic has developed. Newlands Clinic is training public and private sector health care workers in ART management and is well recognised as a centre of excellence by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in Zimbabwe. Our idea of replicating this model and entering into partnership was immediately well received by Prof. Ruedi Lüthy and his team and our cooperation is a success story in itself.
Nurse-based model has proven its worth
The four PSI clinics will take over this tried-and-tested treatment model in its entirety from the infrastructure with laboratory and pharmacy through to the ePOC software and patient-centric treatment and support. The Newlands Clinic treatment model, which was developed by founder and director Prof. Ruedi Lüthy and his team, is specifically geared towards the difficult conditions in southern Africa. Due to the lack of doctors, the nurses play a pivotal role, monitoring the therapy and providing close support to the patients. The nurses are assisted by the clinics own software ePOC and receive ongoing training in HIV management.
HIV requires systematic, life-long therapy and psychosocial support, otherwise life-threatening resistance can develop. The treatment concept includes monthly or three-monthly examinations at the clinic with extensive discussions, regular lab tests, and close monitoring of medication.
Further cooperation planned
Further cooperation of this kind is currently being looked into as part of Swiss Aids Care Internationals Scaling Up strategy. The aim is to pass on knowledge and skills to local professionals, thus providing lasting support to the 1.2 million HIV patients in Zimbabwe. The Newlands Clinic Training Centre has been offering a two-week intensive course in HIV management for doctors and health care workers since 2009, and 250 participants complete the course every year. The aim is to increase this number to 320 participants per year.