CFW UPDATE

Update on Georgian Clinic
Georgia Brown

Thanks to CFW and Cystic Fibrosis Georgia, the new clinic in Tbilisi is improving the quality of life and life expectancy for CF patients a year ahead of schedule! The facility will start treating patients in May 2005. The Georgian National CF Center consists of:

• 9 patient rooms,
• 9 private WC,
• 9 parent or guest rooms,
• 1 small laboratory,
• 1 large physiotherapy room,
• 1 storage area for linens, pharmaceuticals and supplies,
• 2 offices for medical staff,
• 1 welcome and reception area, and
• 1 cafeteria and community room with access to a large outside veranda.

Construction on the clinic began in April 2004 and reached completion in December. In
July, the German Mucoviscidosis organization donated $4000 for the purchase of tile and linoleum. Not only did these supplies improve the overall clinic appearance but, more importantly these materials are easier to clean and they increase cross contamination prevention.

With construction complete, the project focus shifted to supplying equipment and clinic funding. CFW, the CFG and stakeholders have worked on this phase of the project by enlisting the assistance of other organizations.

The CF Foundation of the US donated diagnostic equipment and PFT and equipment. European sources donated nebulizers, Creon and Gentamucin. Project CURE, an international relief organization, and Counterpart International, a US State Department funded shipping program, are collaborating on shipping equipment and furnishings to the new clinic. The first shipment containing basic furnishings and supplies will leave the US in February 2005. The second shipment containing laboratory and physiotherapy equipment will depart the US in March 2005.

Basic care and medication for CF patients costs about $5000 annually. Because the total
Georgian State Health care budget for 2004 was about $100 million dollars, there is considerable focus on securing funding to help Georgian CF patients pay for their CF treatment.

The plan to achieve quality care is two-fold. First, the Ministry of Health will need to set aside an annual allotment to ease the financial burden faced by CF patients. Second, cost effective care is crucial. To ease the burden, the facilities along with the physicians and staff will be accessible to other patients when not being used by the CF clinic for CF patients. While CFW and CFG are committed to CF patients first, no chronically ill child should be denied treatment if resources are not in use.

The SOCO Foundation, sponsored by Georgian First Lady Sandra Roelofs, agreed to fund the clinic opening. The SOCO Foundation promotes healthcare for children and reproductive health care for women. The SOCO Foundation operates a mobile clinic that goes each month to villages throughout Georgia to provide health care. CF care will be added to the clinic in hopes of promoting CF care and helping patients receive CF diagnosis.

Clearly, the project progressed steadily and problems were resolved effectively. CFW is excited about the success of the 5-year plan thus far because it will be used to fund, construct and supply CF clinics in other underdeveloped nations.