Nationwide Strengthening of Hospital System in Tanzania Marks New Era in Fight Against

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, October 6/PRNewswire/ --

- The Abbott Fund and the Government of Tanzania Dedicate New Hospital Facilities to Meet Long-Term Needs of Patients with HIV/AIDS and Other Diseases.

In a ceremony today, Abbott CEO Miles White joined Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa in dedicating a new state-of-the-art outpatient treatment center and clinical laboratories at Muhimbili National Hospital. The new facilities will
dramatically improve the care of people with HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases, benefiting up to 1,000 patients a day. The event marks a key milestone for the nationwide Abbott Fund initiative, one of the most comprehensive efforts in Africa to strengthen a country's health care system to meet the lifelong treatment needs of people living with
HIV.

'The dedication of these new hospital buildings symbolizes the sweeping changes that
we are implementing throughout the country's health care system to address the AIDS epidemic and will further our goal of expanding the national treatment program to reach more Tanzanians living with HIV,' said President Mkapa. 'Through our successful
partnership with the Abbott Fund, we are providing Tanzanian health professionals with resources and tools to more effectively manage our health care system.'

The U.S. $35 million Abbott Fund initiative is focused primarily on improving Tanzania's health system to provide quality, lifelong care for patients with HIV/AIDS and
other diseases. Centered at Muhimbili Hospital, work also is underway at 82 additional hospitals and rural health centers across the country. Key areas of focus include modernizing facilities, training staff, improving hospital and patient management, and
expanding capacity for testing and treatment. The Abbott Fund initiative is part of a unique public-private partnership with the Government of Tanzania. Axios, an organization
specializing in health management in developing countries, is serving as the implementing partner for the initiative.