AFRICA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://allafrica.com/stories/201104220455.html
Maputo — The fight against HIV and AIDS in Maputo suffered a setback on Wednesday night when thieves broke into the DREAM Centre in the Benfica neighbourhood and stole all the computers.
The DREAM (Drug Resource Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition) programme, set up by the Italian NGO, the Sant'Egidio Community, is one of the main providers in Mozambique of the life-prolonging anti-retroviral treatment to HIV-positive people.
The security guard was badly beaten, and had to receive medical attention.
"We will have to replace the computers, repair the doors and the burglar bars, and only after this will we able to operate fully again. Up to 3 May, we shall be obliged to provide only minimal services", said Dr Ines Zimba, the clinical head of the Benfica DREAM Centre.
"We guarantee the delivery of medicines, and care for some special cases", she added. "But consultations and clinical controls can only resume after we have restored normal working conditions". "It is very sad and frustrating to see our efforts to provide a decent service destroyed by thieves who perhaps even have relatives being assisted by us", said Zimba.
This is the third time that thieves have struck at the Benfica DREAM Centre. The first time was in 2008, and the second in February of this year. On these occasions too the main target of the thieves was the computers, but in February they also stole sacks of food intended for the 5,000 or so HIV positive patients assisted by the Centre.
Mozambique: Computers Stolen From Dream Centre
22 April 2011
Maputo — The fight against HIV and AIDS in Maputo suffered a setback on Wednesday night when thieves broke into the DREAM Centre in the Benfica neighbourhood and stole all the computers.
The DREAM (Drug Resource Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition) programme, set up by the Italian NGO, the Sant'Egidio Community, is one of the main providers in Mozambique of the life-prolonging anti-retroviral treatment to HIV-positive people.
According to a DREAM press release, three men attacked the Benfica centre, overpowered the security guard on duty, and broke into the consultation rooms and the warehouse. They stole five computers, four monitors, a printer and several thermometers.
The security guard was badly beaten, and had to receive medical attention.
"We will have to replace the computers, repair the doors and the burglar bars, and only after this will we able to operate fully again. Up to 3 May, we shall be obliged to provide only minimal services", said Dr Ines Zimba, the clinical head of the Benfica DREAM Centre.
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This is the third time that thieves have struck at the Benfica DREAM Centre. The first time was in 2008, and the second in February of this year. On these occasions too the main target of the thieves was the computers, but in February they also stole sacks of food intended for the 5,000 or so HIV positive patients assisted by the Centre.
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