AIDS Training Program

a collaboration of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the HIV Medicine Association, and the Accordia Global Health Foundation

The Sub-Saharan Africa Epidemic

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing the brunt of the AIDS pandemic with an estimated 22.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, which represents more than two-thirds (68%) of the global epidemic. Although ultimate control of AIDS depends on effective prevention, there is increasing recognition that HIV care and support is a powerful tool for expanding the response to the epidemic. In SSA, optimal care for HIV infection is limited by multiple factors, including poor infrastructure, lack of access to antiretrovirals (ARV), and inadequate numbers of trained personnel to care for patients with HIV/AIDS and its complications. Moreover, many studies have correlated improved survival and quality of life with the enhanced skill of those who regularly care for those with HIV infection.

About the AIDS Training Program

The AIDS Training Program (ATP) is IDSA’s and HIVMA’s contribution to the Accordia Global Health Foundation (Accordia). ATP’s goal is to train African physicians and other health care professionals in HIV/AIDS care, using IDSA and HIVMA members from around the world as faculty.

Accordia is an alliance of Ugandan physicians from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and infectious disease experts from North America and Europe. The major objectives of Accordia are to strengthen and upgrade academic medical centers in sub-Saharan Africa, so they can educate and prepare a new generation of healthcare professionals, and pioneer new and improved therapies and prevention strategies applicable to both rural and urban settings, while offering advanced treatment and care to those currently living with the disease.

Becoming a Trainer

Selection

Selected trainers must be members of IDSA or HIVMA and have demonstrated substantial commitment to the care of patients with HIV/AIDS and its complications. Members-in-training are eligible.

Service as faculty members in courses on HIV/AIDS, mentors for trainees in the care of patients with HIV/AIDS, and service in a resource-poor setting are desirable but not required. One trainer will be chosen for each identified block.

Responsibilities

Trainers will be responsible for the following:

coordinating trainees for the three-week training session
delivering and refining lectures for the course of the three-week session
facilitating interactive sessions with trainees including journal discussions and clinical case studies
providing instruction in both outpatient and inpatient clinical settings
providing introductory computer support to trainees
participating in clinical activities at Mulago Hospital, the Infectious Disease Institute, the Joint Clinical Research Center, and other venues

Curriculum

The curriculum includes a wide range of topics including, but not limited to:

global epidemiology of HIV infection	clinical management of HIV/AIDS in adults and children	mental health
HIV basic science	vaccines	nutrition
pathogenesis of HIV infection	HIV prevention	clinical trials design
clinical manifestations and diagnosis of HIV/AIDS	HIV-related diseases	research priorities and ethical issues
antiretroviral therapy	palliative care	informatics

When and Where

The training program for African physicians began in April 2002. The goal is to train approximately 20-25 African physicians during each three-week training session. To date, ATP has trained more than 2000 physicians from 27 African nations.

The training program is centered in Kampala and will utilize the facilities of the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University, the Mulago Hospital, the Joint Clinical Research Center, and other facilities, both inpatient and outpatient, in Kampala for the care of a cohort of patients with HIV/AIDS.

Volunteers participate for 3 weeks.

What Volunteer Trainers Receive

In consideration of these services, the volunteer trainers will receive the following:

round-trip economy class airfare from point of origin to Kampala
a $5,000 per month stipend
on-site housing (house cleaning, security, gym)
a reasonable per diem for expenses, food, etc. (currently $25/day)
transport - airport pick-up/drop-off; daily round trips to IDI
visa (3 months)
vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis
mobile phone

Application & Current Training Blocks

There are no current training blocks available for this program. Check back frequently for updates, beginning Fall 2010.

If you require any further information regarding this program please contact us at (703) 299-1215.