India HIV Medic Program 2008

[Guest guest]

HIV MEDICS: TRAINING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE FIGHT

AGAINST AIDS India HIV Medic Program 2008

 

AHF India Cares and IGNOU have come together to offer the HIV Medic program in

India for the first time. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) the largest provider

of specialised HIV medical care in the United States developed and implemented

‘HIV Medic Training and Education Program’ successfully in Uganda, Zambia

and Rwanda training community members as healthcare workers in the fight against

HIVAIDS.

This innovative program offers a practical, hands-on solution to help develop

additional skilled human resources to better support the overall goal of

increasing the number of people receiving ART and improving the quality of care.

 

The first batch of HIV Medic Program started from November 3, 2008 with 30

candidates registered from Delhi and NCT region held at IGNOU Campus. The

shortlisted candidates signed a letter of commitment to be trained as HIV

Medics. There is adequate representation of women candidates and all were upbeat

about the program due to its innovative design structure constituting both

theory and practical classes.

There are a few messages across the board, which echo the essence of this unique

and important program.

 

" Bringing the HIV Medics program to India in the Asia Pacific will help usher

more HIV positive people and those already living with AIDS into care and

treatment. We look forward to our collaboration with our partner at Indira

Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in India and thank all who were involved

in securing this exciting new training partnership " ( Weinstein,

President- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

" We believe this innovative program offers practical, hands on solution to help

develop additional skilled human resources to better support the successful

scale up of Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) " ( Adair, Director of Training,

AHF Global)

" The innovative HIVAIDS education program conceived, developed and initiated by

AHF to train lay people as HIV Medics paraprofessional healthcare worker 

trained to assist clinicians and nurses in the provision of Anti-retroviral

therapy for people living with HIVAIDS has already brought dramatic changes, 

relief and unburden the overburdened task of HIV service providing doctors and

nurses " (Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing, Asia Pacific Bureau Chief, AHF Global)

" This is not going to be an easy kind of a training program as the curriculum

ensures high standards. I am also quite thrilled to learn the basics and updated

information on HIVAIDS in this Medic program " (Suraj, HIV Medic Candidate)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the US’ largest non-profit HIV/AIDS

healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more

than 79,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin

America/Caribbean and the Asia Pacific Region. Additional information is

available at www.aidshealth.org. AHF India Cares was established in 2004 under

the aegis of AIDS Healthcare Foundation in India and registered as a Trust in

2006 in New Delhi. The Trust carries forward the vision and mission of AHF.

For queries and suggestions kindly contact the Training Coordinator:

chinkholal.thangsing@...

 

Released by:

Advocacy, Communication and Policy Division

AHF India Cares

 

Dr. Mahesh Ganesan

Advocacy Coordinator,

AIDS Healthcare Foundation-India Cares

S7, Panchsheel Park,

New Delhi 110 017

Tel: +91 11 41745541/ 42

Fax: +91 11 41745543

Cell: +91 9911331998

mahesh.ganesan@...

www.aidshealth.org