IHO Inaugurates Regional AIDS Training Network in Patna

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues,

Please see the attached invitation for the International Health Organization's

upcoming inauguration for it's new Regional AIDS Training Network and Center in

India. His Excellency Justice Rama Jois, the Honorable Governor of the State of

Bihar will inaugurate the program.

__________________

The International Health Organization Announces The Inauguration Of Its Regional

AIDS Training Center And Network In India (RATNEI)

Event scheduled for Monday, October 11 in Patna, India

Media Advisory

BOSTON/EWORLDWIRE/Oct. 6, 2004 --- Boston-based International Health

Organization (IHO) is pleased to announce the inauguration of its ambitious

initiative, the " Regional AIDS Training Center and Network in India "

(R.A.T.N.E.I.).

His Excellency Justice Rama Jois, Honorable Governor of the State of Bihar,

India, will formally inaugurate RATNEI on Monday, October 11 in Patna, India.

The event will be hosted at Indira Gandhi Planetarium in Patna.

RATNEI aims at strengthening the capacity of health workers in India and

neighboring countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh to empower their response

to the AIDS epidemic in India in particular and South Asia in general. In

response to the need and interest as expressed by health personnel in India for

such capacity development programs, RATNEI aims to provide comprehensive,

sustained, advanced and grassroots level training, as well as, a platform for

all interested to exchange information, share resources, and establish

coalitions and collaborations for AIDS programs. RATNEI is the very first

comprehensive network-center in the world which will train up to 5,000

physicians and other health care providers in the multiple disciplines of AIDS

surveillance, prevention, treatment and human rights. This unique initiative

comes at a " crossroads " - literally and figuratively - when India has, in 2004,

according to the executive director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and

Malaria , " the world's largest number of persons with HIV infection " -

E.A. Feacham, September 15,2004, New Delhi

RATNEI's unique strength lies in the fact that it will provide capacity

development at all levels- medical, paramedical and non-medical personnel, in

all the major program areas: AIDS Project Planning and Management; Health

Promotion and Social Marketing; HIV/AIDS Prophylaxis, Treatment and Support;

Voluntary Counseling & Testing and Laboratory Services; AIDS Advocacy, Activism,

Coalitions, Communications, & Human Rights; and HIV/AIDS Anti-Retroviral

Therapy.

IHO has brought together some of the best known AIDS experts from US and India

together from leading government, academic, and AIDS service organizations. In

the US, organizations include:

- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

- Harvard University

- State Public Health Departments

- Los Angeles AIDS Foundation and other private service and outreach

organizations

The leading AIDS experts in India include:

- Government of India's National AIDS Control Organization

- Chennai Medical College

- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences

- Patna Medical College

- media representatives and AIDS activists, among others.

RATNEI proudly represents one of the most distinguished, diverse and dedicated

faculty to have ever been brought together from both countries to join hands at

expanding knowledge base; increasing clinical, communication, and technical

skills; improving cultural sensitivity and awareness around AIDS in India.

While several AIDS programs are being implemented in different regions of India,

a disproportionately inadequate attention and resources have been directed

towards such programs in the eastern region of India which happens to be the

poorest region with the weakest health sector infrastructure and one that

contributes the largest pool of migrant laborers; all of these are determinant

factors of the AIDS epidemic. Therefore, RATNEI is a proactive endeavor to build

the infrastructure of the eastern region of India to address the looming AIDS

epidemic. RATNEI's location in the Indo-Nepal border city of Patna in eastern

India will ensure easier access to it by health workers in eastern and

northeastern region of India as well as adjoining countries such as Nepal.

RATNEI has been made possible by a generous matching grant from Sir Elton

AIDS Foundation.

Media Inquires: ph D'Amour, Esq., Chairman, Board of Advisors Phone:

413-533-1115 Email: joe1852@...

HTML: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/wr/100604/10677.htm

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CONTACT:

ph D'Amour, Esq.

International Health Organization

60 Leo Birmingham Parkway

Suite 105

Boston, MA 02135

PHONE. 413-533-1115

EMAIL: joe1852@...

http://www.ihousa.org

______________

Sincerely,

Melamede

RATNEI Coordinator, IHO-USA

60 Leo Birmingham Parkway

Boston, MA 02135, U.S.A.

(617) 254-5077

fax: (617) 254-2767

www.ihousa.org

e-MAIL: <vmelamede@...>