HIV Medic Training and Education Programme

[Guest guest]

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INDIA CARES – NEW DELHI

HIV Medic Training and Education Programme

Training Community Members as Healthcare Workers in the Fight against AIDS

Background: HIV Medics are paraprofessional healthcare workers trained to assist clinicians in the provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest provider of specialised HIV medical care in the United States, developed the programme to address the shortage of healthcare workers in resource-constrained countries. In addition, HIV Medics are often HIV positive themselves or representatives of Health NGOs, CBOs working in HIVAIDS field.

HIV Medics provide initial patient screenings, complete patient histories and refer patients to physicians for physical exams and initiation of ART. They also draw blood, dispense medications and provide medication adherence counselling and HIV testing. Shifting of these aforementioned tasks to the HIV Medics frees up physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals for more complex tasks and enables them to see more patients. These factors contribute to the overall goal of increasing the number of people receiving ART and improving the quality of care.

The HIV Medic training is designed for students with no prior medical training or experience. The training programme is intensive and covers 12 weeks of full-time study.

Course Duration: 3 months (6 weeks of class-room learning and 6 weeks of hands-on experience)

Date and Venue: 3rd November 2008 – 15th December 2008 (class-room learning at Indira Gandhi National Open University, IGNOU Campus, New Delhi) and hands-on training at NGO run Care Homes in Delhi.

Eligibility: HIV Medic students must have a high-school equivalent education, read and write English and be able to commit to the full 12 weeks of training in order to enter the training programme.

Course Outline:

Didactic Knowledge

Students participate in six weeks of classroom teaching

Key topics includes Basic anatomy & physiology; Common diseases in various organ systems; STI's; OIs of HIV; TB; HIV natural history and life cycle; Mechanisms of ARVs; Side Effects/toxicity; HIV in pregnancy; Paediatrics; Counselling; Adherence; Social and ethical aspects of HIVAIDS

Clinical Skills

Students receive six weeks of clinical clerkships. The first two weeks are in the classroom where students learn and practice simple clinical skills such as Patient medical histories; Basic patient assessment and physical examination, VCT, Phlebotomy; Treatment education; Adherence education, counseling and support; Review and document in patient charts; Triage; Present findings to supervising physician, clinical officer; Dispense medication prescribed by physician

Guided Clinical Practice

The remaining four weeks of clinical clerkships are spent on guided practice of knowledge and skills. Students rotate through the following types of facilities under the guidance of physicians, clinical officers and nurses.

Faculty Details: HIV Medic program will be taught by in-house and eminent national and international faculties.

Fees: One time registration fee of Rs. 1100 will be charged. All training materials, food, and modest stipend will be provided during their enrollment with HIV Medic training and education program.

Certificates: Trained HIV medics shall receive certificates issued jointly by IGNOU and AHF India Cares on successful completion of the HIV Medic program.

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. In 2008, AHF India Cares and IGNOU came together to offer the HIV Medic program in India. 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.

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.

ALL CORRESPONDENCE/COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSSED TO:

The Training Coordinator, AIDS Healthcare Foundation India CaresS 7 Panchsheel ParkNew Delhi 110017 INDIA+91-11-41745541-42+91-11-41745543 [Fax]chinkholal.thangsing@...

www.aidshealth.org

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INDIA CARES

Nomination/Application Form

HIV Medic Training and Education Programme – 2008

November 3, 2008 – December 15, 2008

Indira Gandhi National Open University, IGNOU Campus, New Delhi

(To be filled in by the nominee/applicant in CAPITAL LETTERS)

NAME & SURNAME:

GENDER: M/F

AGE:

DATE OF BIRTH:

NATIONALITY:

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

WORK EXPERIENCE:

NAME OF ORGANISATION

DESIGNATION

DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT

ENCLOSURES:

1. Please enclose all necessary academic statements

2. Copy of bio-data/ CV

3. Statement of purpose (A paragraph stating professional goals and career plans including plans and expectations in pursuing this certificate program)

ADDRESS FOR COMMUNICATION:

DATE: SIGNATURE

Nomination/Application form with enclosed CV and statement of purpose should be forwarded by post to:

The Training Coordinator, AIDS Healthcare Foundation India CaresS 7 Panchsheel ParkNew Delhi 110017 INDIA+91-11-41745541-42+91-11-41745543 [Fax]chinkholal.thangsing@...

www.aidshealth.org