[Ip-health] Abbott Fund Increases Commitment to Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, Opening Country's First Corporate Foundation Office]

[robert weissman]

Abbott Fund Increases Commitment to Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania,
Opening Country's First Corporate Foundation Office

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Further deepening its commi=
tment to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, Abbott Fund announced today =
that it is opening a new program office in Tanzania to manage its extensive=
 HIV/AIDS philanthropic efforts and partnerships there.  Abbott Fund also r=
ecently awarded several new HIV grants totaling $9 million, bringing the Fu=
nd's total HIV investment in the country to more than $50 million by the en=
d of 2007.

The new Abbott Fund office, located in the capital city of Dar es Salaam, i=
s the first and only corporate foundation office in Tanzania and Abbott Fun=
d's first office outside of the foundation's Chicago-area headquarters. Und=
er the leadership of Christy Wistar, vice president, Abbott Fund, this new =
office will work to identify and fund innovative approaches to respond to t=
he AIDS pandemic.

"Being part of the community provides a fuller appreciation of the overwhel=
ming burden HIV/AIDS puts on the healthcare system," said Wistar. "This fir=
sthand and personal understanding enables us to develop practical solutions=
 that are grounded in the realities of daily life in Tanzania, where transp=
ortation, food, and electricity can be significant barriers to treating pat=
ients," said Wistar.

Having a presence in the country will enable Abbott and Abbott Fund to furt=
her expand their long-standing partnership with the Government of Tanzania =
to help manage and treat the 2 million people currently living with HIV thr=
oughout Tanzania. In one of the most comprehensive efforts in Africa, Abbot=
t Fund has been working in partnership with the Government of Tanzania for =
more than seven years to strengthen the country's health care system to mee=
t the lifelong treatment needs of people with HIV.  These programs have ser=
ved more than 150,000 patients and families, and have trained more than 10,=
000 health care workers.

Through this partnership, Abbott Fund and the Government have strengthened =
and expanded HIV services at more than half of the country's regional hospi=
tals and at many district hospitals, health centers and dispensaries -- cov=
ering more than 90 sites across the country.  At the nation's largest hospi=
tal and referral center, Muhimbili National Hospital, Abbott Fund built a s=
tate-of-the-art outpatient treatment center and a full-service clinical lab=
oratory.  This hospital serves nearly 1,000 patients suffering from HIV/AID=
S and other chronic diseases each day.  Abbott Fund Tanzania implements the=
se and other HIV/AIDS programs through partnerships with Axios Foundation, =
and new grantees, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Family Hea=
lth International.

"On behalf of the Government and people of Tanzania, we're delighted that A=
bbott Fund is establishing a strong in-country presence," said David Mwakyu=
sa, Tanzania's Minister of Health and Social Welfare.  "Our partnership has=
 been instrumental in expanding access to HIV testing, treatment and care f=
or thousands of Tanzanians.  By investing in our medical and laboratory fac=
ilities, training health workers, and building our hospital management capa=
city, Abbott Fund is helping the government strengthen our core health care=
 system.  Together, we're making a significant difference in the lives of t=
housands of patients."

Globally, Abbott Fund's HIV programs have served more than 600,000 people. =
More than 250,000 patients have been tested through Abbott Fund-supported v=
oluntary counseling and testing programs, with thousands being referred to =
HIV treatment programs.  Abbott has also distributed more than five million=
 free rapid HIV tests and sponsored events to train more than 20,000 health=
 care workers, increasing the capacity of health care workers to diagnose, =
treat and support HIV/AIDS patients.

About Abbott and Abbott Fund

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) has a long history of supporting programs dedicated to ex=
panding access to health care, including the care and treatment of children=
 with HIV/AIDS around the world.  Abbott and Abbott Fund have invested more=
 than $100 million to address critical HIV/AIDS issues throughout Africa an=
d the developing world.  Programs focus on expanding access to testing and =
treatment; preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV; modernizing heal=
th care systems and infrastructure; and providing care and support for chil=
dren affected by HIV/AIDS.

Abbott Fund is a philanthropic foundation established by Abbott, the global=
 health care company, in 1951.  The Fund's vision is to create healthier gl=
obal communities by investing in creative ideas that promote science, expan=
d health care and strengthen communities worldwide.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discover=
y, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical pr=
oducts, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.  The company emplo=
ys 65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

For more information about Abbott, visit http://www.abbott.com/.  For more =
information on Abbott Fund's HIV/AIDS programs, please visit http://abbottg=
lobalcare.org/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:


Source: Abbott


CONTACT:  Ann Fahey-Widman of Abbott, +1-847-938-6388

Web site:  http://www.abbott.com/