The United States Government, though the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has provided support to establish a comprehensive TB/HIV clinic and laboratory at Matsapha Correctional Institution worth over US$70,000 (approximately E735,000). The clinic and laboratory have been fully operational since July 2014, providing much needed TB detection and care services.
The clinic has two consultation rooms and a mini-laboratory. The mini-laboratory is equipped with GeneXpert machines for rapid diagnosis of tubercolosis, supplies, cartridges, and quality assurance calibration kits as well as a microscope with a biosafety cabinet to meet laboratory standards.
With PEPFAR funding, two professional nurses and a lab technician from the correctional services received formal training on TB/HIV and MDR-TB management and have been placed at the Manzini TB Centre for practical training to improve their skills. Currently, clinic staff receive regular mentoring to improve service delivery and patient outcomes as well as ensuring that clinic services comply with the national standards. The support will help His Majesty’s Correctional Services to provide critically needed health services to inmates, officers, and their immediate families
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), working through PEPFAR-funded University Research Co. LLC (URC), provided financial and technical support. The project is the culmination of a successful collaboration between the United States Government,the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland’s Ministry of Health, and His Majesty’s Correctional Services.
