LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your interest in reading the Baylor Black Sea Foundation’s
2019 annual report. Every year, we prepare a structured review of what we
Key Info
accomplished and whom we helped. This report is also a way for us to extend
our thanks to all those who enabled us to serve the community
with life-saving treatment and holistic care.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mark Kline,
Tiberiu Csaki, Michael Mizwa, Rodica
Mătușa, Simona Ruță
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Ana-Maria
SCHWEITZER
CONSTANȚA:
The Baylor Clinical Center of
Excellence, 10 Prelungirea Liliacului
St.
The HIV and Viral Hepatitis B and
C Voluntary Testing Center, Clinical
Hospital, office 243, 143 Tomis Ave.
TULCEA:
The HIV and Viral Hepatitis B and
C Voluntary Testing Center, County
Hospital, Communicable Disease
Department, 32 1848 St.
VISION
Baylor Romania’s vision is to live in a
discrimination-free community that’s
capable of stopping communicable
and chronic diseases.
MISSION
Baylor Romania’s mission is to help
the community develop effective
services for the prevention and
care of infectious and chronic
diseases. Currently, Baylor Black
Sea Foundation’s status is that of a
public utility organization. Baylor
provides prevention, treatment, and
care for people affected by infectious
and chronic diseases, namely viral
hepatitis, HIV infection, and diabetes.
WHERE WE WORK
Baylor provides complex services
at the Clinical Center of Excellence
in Constanţa and operates three
counseling and testing centers in
the Dobrogea region, as well as a
mobile voluntary testing laboratory.
Over the years, Baylor has provided
free-of-charge testing and counseling
for more than 83,000 people, long-
term medical and psycho-social
care for over 4,000 patients with
HIV and hepatitis and supported the
healthcare system with donations
of medicines as well as professional
training courses for specialists.
It has been 18 years since the day that the HIV clinic
in Constanţa opened its doors. The renovation and
operation of this clinic was the first major Baylor
International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) program
in Romania. After establishing the Baylor Black Sea
Foundation, BIPAI reached a wider and more diverse
OUR HISTORY
The Center for HIV Clinical Excellence
or the Romanian American Children’s
Center was founded on April 6, 2001,
and the Baylor Black Sea Foundation
was legally established in 2004. The
Clinical Center of Excellence was
created by Dr. Mark Kline to help the
HIV-infected children he met during
his first visit in Romania in the late
‘90s. At the time of its establishment,
the center was the largest pediatric
clinic in Europe to provide care and
treatment for HIV-infected children.
Baylor Romania is part of a network
of centers headquartered in Houston,
Texas, at the Baylor College of
Medicine and Texas Children’s
Hospital. The network includes 14
countries in Africa, North America,
South America, and Eastern Europe.
BIPAI’s mission is to provide ethical,
high-quality services with a strong
impact in the areas of HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition,
and other diseases that affect the
health and well-being of children and
families around the world.
BIPAI conducts projects in 14
countries, providing family-centered
medical care, pediatric treatment,
and specializations for medical and
research professionals.
population in need.
In 2019, we delivered diverse clinical services to more
than 1,000 people living with or affected by HIV, more than 600
patients living with hepatitis, and more than 8,500 people with unknown
HIV or hepatitis status. We have been active in building practical skills
among students and future healthcare professionals, teaching them about
THE HEADQUARTERS:
HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA communication, adherence, and phlebotomy skills. We have shared our
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE I am very proud of an important step the Baylor team took in 2019 when
Gaborone, Botswana we set the stage for incorporating into our portfolio a prediabetes screening
Maseru, Lesotho program. This program will be initially offered to our patients living with HIV
Lilongwe, Malawi
Constanţa, Romania
Mbabane, Swaziland
Mbeya, Tanzania
results with international experts and researchers, and we have disseminated
our experiences at conferences and in scientific journals.
and hepatitis as part of the package of services offered to improve clinical
outcomes and their quality of life. At the same time, we are working towards
implementing more lifestyle change interventions in order to decrease the
morbidities associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition choices.
Mwanza, Tanzania As executive director, I am uniquely positioned to witness how the generosity
Kampala, Uganda of funders and sponsors combines with the skills and dedication of our staff
SATELLITE EXCELLENCE
CENTERS these true influencers who give money, time, talent, and energy to the mission
Botha-Bothe, Lesotho
Leribe, Lesotho
Mohale`s Hoek, Lesotho
Mokhotlong, Lesotho
to change the lives of thousands of people. I feel great admiration towards
of Baylor Black Sea Foundation.
In 2020, I am sure we will face many more challenges. But I am confident
about the future because I have proof today that there are people who care
about changing the world: our donors, my colleagues, our partners, and, of
course, our patients. Together, we’re creating the future we want to live in.
Q`acha`s Nek, Lesotho Sincerely,
Hlatikulu, Swaziland Ana-Maria Schweitzer,
Manzini, Swaziland Executive Director
3