HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Winter 2012 Volume VII, Issue 1

Field Notes

Inside this issue: AIHA Showcases HIV/AIDS Twinning Center Partnerships and Programs at ICASA 2011 Ethiopia Opens Its 2 First Pediatric Ethiopia welcomed nearly Emergency Unit 10,000 scientists, public health professionals, social Combatting HIV 3 service workers, policymakers through Peer- and others stakeholders supported Recovery December 4-8, 2011, as the country hosted the 16th HIV Media Partners 4 International Conference Support ’s on AIDS and Sexually Trans- FOIA Efforts mitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) in Addis Ababa. Twinning Center partner AIHA staff distributed infor-

VHC Volunteer Helps 5 Augusta Muthigani of the mation on its Twinning Center AIHA showcased its success- Improve Lab Practices Kenyan Episcopal Conference programs throughout Africa ful HRSA-supported HIV/AIDS Catholic Secretariat’s Com- to thousands of ICASA dele- at AAU Twinning Center partnerships mission for Education (right) gates who visited our booth and related initiatives during presented on KEC’s joint at the international exhibit. ZDF Partners Launch 6 the 5-day event, sharing New Telemedicine information with participants work with DePaul University Program in Zambia who hailed from more than during a session on effective Dr. Gilles Raguin, Executive 100 countries spanning the communication methods for Director, GIP ESTHER, gave AIHA Looks to Expand 6 globe through scientific HIV prevention. an overview of ESTHER’s Twinning Center to the presentations, a satellite hospital partnerships in Caribbean Region session, and an informational AIHA co-hosted a satellite Francophone Africa. Programs booth at ICASA’s international session on twinning with the in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, LRC Coordinators Meet 7 exhibition. Ensemble pour une Solidarité and Mali were showcased. in to Share Thérapeutique Hospitalière en Best Practices Réseau (ESTHER France), Later in the week, Augusta which was held on Dec. 5. Muthigiani of the Kenyan Conferences and 8 John Capati, AIHA’s Country Episcopal Conference (KEC) Catholic Secretariat in Nairobi Opportunities Director for , moderated the event. presented during a panel discussion on Feasible AIHA Executive Director Communication Methods for

James P. Smith provided an HIV Prevention. Her presenta- overview of AIHA’s twinning tion, titled “Training and model, setting the stage for Supporting Kenyan Teachers Ethiopian Minister of Health presentations made by as HIV Prevention Interven- Dr. Tedros Adhanom, AIHA Twinning Center partners tion Facilitators: Collaborating Executive Director James P. Dr. Atalay Alem Ejigu, Chief to Combat HIV/AIDS while Smith, Clinton Foundation Executive Director, Addis Working to Achieve Education Country Director and 2011 Ababa University College of for All,” highlighted the ICASA President Dr. Yigeremu Health Sciences; Prof. Khaya efforts of KEC’s ongoing Abebe, and AIHA Country Mfenyana, Executive Dean, partnership with DePaul University in Chicago. Director for Ethiopia Kidest Walter Sisulu University Fac-

Hailu posed for a photo at the ulty of Health Sciences; and Dr. Joseph Masci, Medical Twinning Center booth in Director, Elmhurst Hospital ICASA’s exhibition hall. Center. Page 2 Field Notes Volume VII, Issue 1

Ethiopia’s First Pediatric Emergency Unit Opens at Addis Ababa University’s Black Lion Hospital

When Ethiopia celebrated the that some patients remained their children's bedsides and opening of its first pediatric in the ER as long as a month. no children were crying in emergency room at Tikur pain,” she observed, pointing Anbessa (Black Lion) Hospital As a result of the partnership, out that, “It was a remarka- in Addis Ababa on January which is managed by AIHA’s ble transformation!” 25, the healthcare workers HIV/AIDS Twinning Center, staffing the 50-bed facility the Unit’s staff have been Dr. Dinberu agrees, stressing were well prepared to see trained on a broad range of that care is delivered in a their first young patients. basic and pediatric-specific more organized and efficient emergency medicine topics, manner, which has lead to Thanks to the generous including Emergency Triage less overcrowding and a support of the American Assessment and Treatment reduction in mortality rates people through PEPFAR and (ETAT); Basic Life Support and average length of stays. CDC/Ethiopia, healthcare (BLS); Pediatric Advanced providers at the new Life Support (PALS); Basic “Our patients and their Pediatric Emergency Care Life Skills & Intensive Care families seem much happier Unit were trained at Addis Unit in Pediatrics Manage- with the entire experience,” Ababa University’s Emergency ment; and Emergency she says, concluding, “I Medicine Training Center. Ultrasound Training. believe the Unit is now a model that other developing Established through an AIHA Because of these trainings, countries can learn from.” twinning partnership linking and renovations to the Unit Tikur Anbessa’s new Pediatric Addis Ababa University done by Johns Hopkins Ethiopia’s Minister of Health Emergency Care Unit is a School of Medicine and the University with support from Dr. Teodros Adhanom remarkable change from the old University of Wisconsin at PEPFAR and CDC/Ethiopia, Minister has also said that facility. It includes a 50-bed Madison, the Training Center the experience for children the new facility would serve has been supporting Ethio- brought to Tikur Anbessa for as a catalyst, inspiring other emergency room that offers pia’s efforts to improve the urgent care these days is improvements at the hospital. quality urgent care services in a quality of urgent care for markedly different from what cheerful, modern setting that adult and pediatric patients it once was. During the opening makes a difficult and frightening through targeted training for ceremony, he explained experience as comfortable as nearly three years. Dr. Cynthia Haq, Professor of that Ethiopia is working very possible for young patients and Family Medicine and Popula- aggressively to produce their families. The Unit was “Prior to the opening of the tion Health Sciences, and skilled human resources for renovated by Johns Hopkins Training Center, there was no Director of the University of the nation’s health sector — University with support from systematic framework for Wisconsin-Madison Center for something the AIHA twinning PEPFAR and CDC/Ethiopia. Staff training on evaluation and Global Health, first visited the partnership and the management of critically ill site in 2009 and returned Emergency Medicine Training training was carried out through children at the undergraduate shortly after the new Unit Center is actively supporting an AIHA twinning partnership or residency levels,” explains opened earlier this year. in an effort to improve child between Addis Ababa University Dr. Muluwork Tefera Dinberu health and mitigate the School of Medicine and the Uni- of Tikur Anbessa. “In 2009, I was told that country’s burden from versity of Wisconsin at Madison. many people had tried to HIV/AIDS. On a practical level, she says, improve pediatric emergency this inadequate training was services, but none had been To date, some 400 health compounded by a lack of very successful. Children and allied professionals necessary equipment, no were dying there each day have completed pediatric systematic triaging protocols, under dire circumstances, emergency medicine courses and poor medical record often in painful, crowded at the Center, taking their keeping, among other things. conditions with very inade- new-found knowledge and quate drugs, supplies, and skills back to communities “The concept of teamwork space,” Haq recalls, calling as widespread as Mekele, among physicians and nurses that initial visit horrifying. Gondar, and Jimma. even during the worst emergencies did not exist. “When I returned to see the Medical residents participate in Staff were not skilled in CPR new Pediatric Emergency and the emergency room was Care Unit, I could hardly a Basic Life Support course at by an large considered to be believe my eyes! It was the Addis Ababa University an inpatient ward with an spacious and well-organized, Emergency Medical Training average stay of five days,” with efficient triage of Center. Dr. Dinberu continues, noting patients. Parents were at Field Notes Volume VII, Issue 1 Page 3

Combating HIV in Tanzania and Zanzibar through Peer-supported Substance Abuse Recovery

Substance abuse, particularly support one another’s journey and, because of that, there is injecting drug use, is a key to sobriety — play a key role a need for linking both the driver of the HIV epidemic in in ROSC; Zanzibar now has clinical and non-clinical many parts of the world. nine of these, including one elements of treatment to for women. better help addicts to stay In Tanzania and elsewhere in clean,” he explains. sub-Saharan Africa, it takes a Launched in 2008 with back seat to other forms of support from PEPFAR and “We’ve achieved a tremen- transmission, but it is still a CDC/Tanzania, an HIV/AIDS dous amount since the factor — especially in high- Twinning Center partnership Zanzibar partnership started risk border towns, port cities, is implementing the project. and even in the short time and resort areas. since the ROSC Symposium,” Partners include the Tanzania Ngonyani points out. All too often, people who Ministry of Health and Social inject drugs are stigmatized Welfare’s Zanzibar Depart- “We have witnessed a and driven into the shadows. ment of Substance Abuse and remarkable transformation in In many developing coun- Prevention; the Mainland Non the program in terms of the tries, there are no systems in -Communicable Disease, services we offer in the Sober place to treat people with Mental Health, and Substance Houses, moving from basic addiction to drugs or alcohol, Abuse Department and Drug rehabilitation to equipping the Support groups play a critical role so these individuals are even Control Commission; and the peers with skills to sustain in helping people who are working further marginalized. US-based Great Lakes Addic- their livelihood. We are using to overcome addiction. Partners tion Transfer and Technology what we’ve done in Zanzibar have trained more than 50 peer “Substance abuse treatment Center. as a starting point for educators as part of their efforts in Tanzania is mainly provid- expansion of these successful to implement a recovery oriented ed in the psychiatric units of a In February 2012, partners efforts to the Mainland,” he system of care on Zanzibar. few hospitals. The use hosted the Tanzania ROSC continues. of mental health services for Symposium in Dar es Salaam treatment of individuals with as a way to showcase the “The ROSC program has been drug dependence increases successful ROSC model with embraced by the Zanzibar stigma, thus compromising the goal of replication on community and more people the acceptability of these Mainland Tanzania. This are now aware of the work services,” explains Christo- resulted in greater awareness we do. Some of our recovery pher Shekiondo, Tanzania’s of ROSC among stakeholders peers have suffered gravely Drug Control Commissioner. from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and almost lost their lives Dodoma, Mwanza, Tanga, because of drug abuse. They A model program in Zanzibar, and other regions of lost all hope for redemption, however, is offering a promis- Tanzania. but this program has given ing alternative that uses a them a second chance,” holistic, evidence-based Following the symposium, Ngonyani says. approach called Recovery recovering peers from all over Through the partnership, a total Oriented System of Care the country participated in a “The amazing progress of nine Sober Houses have been (ROSC). 3-day training-of-trainers toward recovery that has established on Zanzibar, including course and are now training been made by some of these one facility for women. They offer Under the ROSC framework, others in their respective young men and women has a strong, supportive community services are much broader in communities on the reinforced people’s belief that of peers in recovery, who assist scope with the focus of care peer-to-peer recovery model recovery is not only a possi- one another through the difficult and support moving beyond that is at the core of ROSC. bility,” he concludes, “It is a journey to sobriety. symptom reduction and reality.” helping people achieve “Before the ROSC Symposi- abstinence. um, only few people were aware of how different the Instead, services are concept is from existing designed to assist people with programs in Tanzania. People building individual, social, were working in isolation,” and community resources to says Drug Control Commis- promote long-term recovery. sion Chemist Alois Ngonyani.

Sober Houses — community “Afterward, stakeholders residences where peers in understood that there are so recovery live together and many pathways into recovery Page 4 Field Notes Volume VII, Issue 1

Kentucky Partner Plays Key Role in Efforts to Develop Freedom of Information Policy in Zambia

A Twinning Center partner- In response, the University My second point was that, to ship designed to help African of Kentucky sent veteran be effective, such a law needs journalists cover HIV and journalist and associate a simple, uncomplicated, and AIDS-related topics more professor Al Cross to both inexpensive process by which effectively has spun off an nations in May 2010. citizens (including journalists) effort to help Zambian can appeal an official’s refusal journalists, academics, and There, he facilitated discus- to grant inspection or copying politicians pass a Freedom of sions on the importance of of records they request,” Information Act (FOIA) that press freedom and how Cross stresses. could be the strongest in journalists and government Africa. officials could play their In many US states, such proper roles without enacting appeals are handled by the In 2007 thanks to support regulation that contradicts state attorney general, who in from PEPFAR and the US the traditions of these former most states is an official Embassy in Lusaka, AIHA British-ruled countries. elected independently from launched the partnership, the governor and other state which links the University of “I brought my 30 years of officials, according to Cross. Kentucky School of Journal- experience as a political and ism and Telecommunications government reporter, as well “In Kentucky and some other with the Lusaka-based as my leadership roles in states, the attorney general’s Zambia Institute of Mass the Society of Professional decision has the force of law, University of Kentucky Communication Educational Journalists, where I was unless overturned by a partner Al Cross has been Trust (ZAMCOM). This part- president in 2001-02,” court,” he says. providing technical nership later expanded to explains Cross, who has guidance to policymakers include the Media Institute of served as the director of To familiarize Zambians inter- looking to draft Freedom Southern Africa (MISA) in University’s Institute of Rural ested in a local FOIA with of Information Act (FOIA) Botswana. Journalism and Community these and other procedures, legislation for Zambia. Issues since 2005. the University hosted a group In late 2009, the ruling from Zambia in March. parties of both countries “After the then-opposition ramped up conflicts with party in Zambia won the “We began with a meeting at journalists and began moving national election in Septem- the attorney general’s office toward licensing and regula- ber 2011 and said it was still with members of his staff as tion of journalists and news in favor of a FOIA, I spent well as Kentucky journalists outlets. eight days in Lusaka in who are familiar with the November and December process,” Cross notes, ex- meeting with government plaining, “We hope that our officials, journalists, academ- work will result in the ics, and others interested in Zambian Parliament passing moving forward with the a strong FOIA that will make Launched in 2008, the ZAMCOM/University of Kentucky legislation in Zambia,” Cross the national, state, and local partnership has trained nearly 200 Zambian journalists says. governments more open and democratic. In turn, this will on accurate HIV/AIDS reporting. Partners have also “I also had meetings with provide a good example for conducted workshops in Chipata, Kitwe, and Livingstone government officials who other developing nations to to train community members to produce radio programs had no stated position on follow.” on HIV and other critical public health issues, and the issue, but could well be involved in drafting, passing, Concluding, Cross stresses provided training for staff at community radio stations and administering the law,” that, “Around the world, throughout the country. he continues. openness and transparency in government and civil society In October 2011, partners launched the "Newspaper in “Two of the major points I encourage investment, Education" project in close cooperation with Zambia’s made in all these meetings development, and democracy. Ministry of Education and the Zambia Daily Mail to were that any open records We hope to remain a part of improve classroom access to reading material and law should be designed for that process in Zambia and in use of the people in general other nations that may find teaching resources — in particular on health topics — not just for journalists — our assistance useful.” and gender-based violence. because most of the people who use such laws around the world are not journalists.

Page 5 Field Notes Volume VII, Issue 1

Volunteer Introduces Experiment Log Book, Improves Practice at AAU Biochem Department

When Dr. Yididya B. Banti reagents,” she says, citing Basic Science Track of the arrived at the Addis Ababa the quality of seminars, 2011 International Confer- University (AAU) School of presentations, and thesis ence on AIDS and STIs in Medicine in January 2010, the papers done by postgraduate Africa (ICASA), which was Biochemistry Department students as other concerns. held in Addis Ababa in was struggling to overcome December. She also spear- a significant shortage of qual- Another major problem, headed development of an ified lecturers. This lack of Dr. Banti points out, was that approved laboratory log book experienced faculty was hav- the Biochemistry Department — the first of its kind in ing a serious impact on the did not have a standard Ethiopia. University’s ability to approved log book for effectively train students in recording experiments and “When I proposed the idea of its graduate programs. entering raw data. Instead, preparing a log book to the research students keep all head of the Biochemistry Born and raised in Ethiopia, raw data related to their work Department, Dr. Daniel Seifu, Dr. Banti immigrated to rather than providing it to the he was thrilled and very Australia in 1997. There, she Department along with their supportive. I presented the completed high school and final thesis — a practice that first draft of the book to the earned her Bachelor’s degree can have serious negative academic staff and incorpo- in applied chemistry. She consequences, such as rated their suggestions into went on to earn a Doctoral precluding publication of the final version,” Dr. Banti degree, conducting award- research that is not backed says, explaining that this VHC volunteer Dr. Yididya B. winning research in the fields up by original data. marked a crucial step toward Banti in her office at the AAU of chemistry and biochemis- building the lab’s capacity. try. It also means that the Bio- Biochemistry Lab. chemistry Department has no “It is also indicative of the After 12 years in Australia, “institutional knowledge” that sustainability of the Depart- Dr. Banti returned to Ethiopia can serve as a strong basis ment and its programs … in 2009 for a visit. Eager to for future research projects. something I know will be use her knowledge and skills continued even after my to help strengthen the health “One of the most basic assignment has concluded.” system in her homeland, she requirements for sound visited a number of local scientific research is using an Dr. Seifu agrees. institutions. That’s how she approved log book to capture learned about the HIV/AIDS all experimental procedures “The content and design of “One of the most Twinning Center’s Volunteer and related data, including the laboratory log book have basic requirements Healthcare Corps (VHC). instruments used and out- already been approved by the for sound scientific comes. Without this tool, Biochemistry Department. research is using an With support from PEPFAR there is no acceptable clarity The log book was prepared approved log book and CDC/Ethiopia, the VHC or consistency in record- with a high level of profes- to capture all placed her in a two-year keeping because everyone sionalism and features all the experimental volunteer assignment as a just uses his or her own necessary criteria required for lecturer and mentor at AAU’s methods,” Dr. Banti says, research purposes, so it is of procedures and School of Medicine. observing that maintaining a paramount importance for the related data, including standardized log book is an documentation of experi- instruments used and “The Biochemistry Depart- indication of solid, quality mental data used by our Mas- outcomes. Without ment was established along laboratory practices. ter’s and Doctoral students, this tool, there is no with the School of Medicine as well as for reference within acceptable clarity more than 50 years ago,” Although her main duties the Department,” Dr. Seifu or consistency in Dr. Banti explains, noting were associated with lecturing stresses. record-keeping that in addition to lacking and mentoring students, because everyone just enough qualified instructors, Dr. Banti says she felt it was “It is our belief that the same there were other serious her moral obligation to document could be adopted uses his or her own challenges. contribute her knowledge and by all departments that run methods.” skills in any way she could, postgraduate programs. Be- “The lab did not meet ac- particularly when she knew cause of this, it is important — Dr. Yididya B. Banti. ceptable international quality that her input would have a to recognize and appreciate standards related to its lasting impact. In keeping the work done by Dr. Ydidya, set-up and the availability of with this mindset, she served who relentlessly supported necessary instruments and as the chairperson for the the entire Department.”

Field Notes Volume VII, Issue 1 Page 6

ZDF Medical Learning Resources Initiative Launches Telemedicine Program

AIHA twinning partners at the According to Zamtel make the most rational use Zambian Chairman and Acting of limited resources. (ZDF) celebrated the nation- Chief Executive Officer wide launch of its Military Dr. Mupanga Mwanakatwe, AIHA has established a Medical Learning Resources the telemedicine solution is network of 10 Learning Initiative March 14 at Maina delivered through a dedicated Resource Centers (LRCs) Soko Military Hospital in point-to-point connection and at military health facilities Lusaka. is largely able to eliminate spanning Zambia to help travel between Maina Soko strengthen continuous In partnership with local tele- Hospital and remote medical clinical education; increase communications company centers for both staff and access to the latest proven Zamtel, ZDF demonstrated a patients. research and guidelines; and new telemedicine program improve the quality of care that enables Maina Soko “We are delighted to be part for military personnel, their experts to conduct live con- of this breakthrough that has families, and the communi- sultations with medical staff successfully demonstrated ties they serve. in remote locations, such as the delivery of telemedicine the Zambia Air Force's solutions that are readily These information and The joint ZDF/AIHA Military Mt. Eugenia Health Center available using our current communications technology Medical Learning Resources in Lusaka West. network infrastructure. centers have the power to Initiative launched their first-ever change the healthcare telemedicine program, piloting a The telemedicine solution We stand ready to work with landscape in Zambia. The link between Maina Soko Hospital provided by Zamtel provides the Government and the Zambian Defence Force is a and the Mt. Eugenia Air Force a live video link for real-time medical fraternity to bring pioneer of these efforts and Health Center on March 14. healthcare consultation about the efficient delivery can serve as an important Services and the capture of of modern healthcare services point of reference for others video and still images and in Zambia through telemedi- seeking to move in this inno- patient data that can then be cine,” Dr. Mwanakatwe said. vative direction. stored and sent to medical consultants for diagnosis and AIHA’s Zambian Defence This initiative is supported by follow-up treatment at a later Forces Military Medical the American people through time. It allows healthcare Learning Resources Initiative PEPFAR and the US Depart- providers and patients to is designed to increase access ment of Defense in Zambia. interact remotely with medi- to evidence-based health cal specialists to improve information for Zambia’s access to high-quality care. It military medical personnel also provides for e-learning, throughout the country. web conferencing, Internet Evidence-based resources access, and data transfer. improve patient care and help

AIHA Introduces Twinning Center Program at the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference

With an eye to expanding its and sustainable response to More than 500 individuals Twinning Center programs to the region’s HIV epidemic. received materials through the Caribbean Region, AIHA the exhibit and Twinning AIHA hosted an exhibition participated in the 2011 Center staff participated in a booth at the conference to Caribbean HIV Conference, number of sessions and share information about the which was held Nov. 18-21 in meetings with potential twinning model and answer the Bahamas. partners. questions from delegates More than 2,000 individuals whose institutions could In the coming months, staff from across the Caribbean greatly benefit from the will pursue opportunities to attended this event, which technical assistance and leverage these activities and was designed to encourage support a formal twinning establish AIHA’s first partner- and support the formation of partnership can bring to the ships in the Caribbean. an effective, collaborative, table. Field Notes Volume VII, Issue 1 Page 7

AIHA’s Learning Resources Project Spearheads Evidence-based Practice at Partner Institutions

AIHA’s Learning Resources guideline revisions, curricu- making more than 20 LRCs Project is a coordinated set of lum development, and other a successful and important strategies designed to health systems strengthening resource at Twinning Center assist healthcare and social interventions as identified by partner institutions in “I learned so much Botswana, Ethiopia, Namibia, services institutions and the partner institution. more than what I professionals in providing Nigeria, South Africa, and quality care to patients in LRC staffing is tailored to the Zambia. thought I would about need. needs of the institution, with information the LRC Coordinator serving With support from PEPFAR management and a The overarching goal of the as the eyes and ears of the and HRSA, AIHA conducted a number of experiences project is to improve the project at each site. LRC regional meeting to build and skills presented at quality of healthcare services Coordinators manage local greater cohesion within have definitely provided to patients by training activities, recruit AIHA’s overall Learning encouraged me to Resources Project March expanding institutional access healthcare workers to partici- proactively improve to knowledge resources, pate in LRC initiatives and 13-14 in Lusaka, Zambia. implementing evidence-based activities, and work with lead- strategies applied in practice methods, and ership to further develop the By gathering partnership the monitoring and supporting professional program within the institution LRC Coordinators from evaluation of LRC communication and and ensure its progress and across Africa together, resources at IHSG, as knowledge sharing platforms sustainability. Therefore, it is AIHA’s goal was to strength- well as provision of among healthcare workers imperative that the LRC Coor- en not only the individual quality services for our and institutions. dinator is highly engaged and LRCs and related e-Health clientele.” programs, but also to en- motivated. To these ends, the Learning courage more robust cross- Resources Project supplies Other key staff resources partnership collaboration. health professionals with include IT and evidence- — Tselane C. Selemogwe, current information on the based practice specialists, as The meeting also served as a Senior Librarian, most effective practices well as physicians, nurses, crucial venue for participants Gaborone Institute of Within their specialization, pharmacists, or others drawn to develop LRC program Health Sciences. while helping these profes- from the institution’s work- work plans and related sionals build new programs force. monitoring and evaluation rooted in evidence-based strategies for the coming medicine. AIHA supports the LRCs and year — both of which will other Learning Resource serve to guide each LRC in A core component of the Project activities by providing its role as an important model is the Learning comprehensive training and component of its twinning Resource Center, which is an ongoing technical support, partnership’s efforts to institutional technology and particularly with regard to strengthen institutional and ICT hub that includes hard- evidence-based practice, tele- human resource capacity. ware, software, Internet medicine, distance learning, access, and a comprehensive practice standard reviews, Meeting sessions provided collection of evidence-based skills labs, warmlines, virtual an opportunity for partici- online and offline health and knowledge hubs, and pants to share strategies medical databases. mHealth initiatives. for overcoming challenges and shine a spotlight on LRCs enable healthcare AIHA staff offer a variety of innovative technologies that had proven successful. They professionals to access up-to- distance learning courses that LRC Coordinators from Twinning also had a chance to collabo- date information resources range from two to six weeks Center partner institutions across rate on the development of and offer new opportunities in duration. These cover Africa gathered for a two-day common, sustainable, and for continuing education, topics such as how to be an meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, to multidisciplinary strategies professional communication, effective distance learner, an share best practices and lessons that improve access to infor- and collaboration within the introduction to evidence- learned in information technology mation among healthcare AIHA partnership network, as based practice, and guidance and evidence-based practice. well as with the international on how to research, adapt, providers and others working health community. and utilize evidence-based in the field of HIV/AIDS patient education materials. and other key public health In addition to outfitting the priorities. LRCs, AIHA trains institutional Annual LRC Coordinator stakeholders to effectively meetings are another way access, evaluate, and utilize that AIHA provides support these knowledge resources to for the health and allied inform clinical case reviews, professionals involved in Conferences and Opportunities

ICASA 2011: Own, Scale 6th International 14th International Up, and Sustain Workshop on HIV Workshop on Adverse Dec. 4-8, 2011 Treatment, Pathogenesis Drug Reactions and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Prevention Research Co-morbidities in HIV ** in Resource-limited July 19-21, 2012 Global South-South Settings (INTEREST) Washington, DC. USA Development Expo 2011 May 8-11, 2012 Dec. 5-9, 2011 Mombasa, Kenya 4th International Work- Rome, Italy shop on HIV Pediatrics ** Turmoil and Tenacity: July 20-21, 2012 Fighting the Scourge of The Progress of Public Washington, DC, USA TB/HIV Co-Infection: Health in Botswana Are Vaccine and Novel June 3-12, 2012 XIX International AIDS Diagnostics the Solution? Gaborone, Botswana Conference March 3, 2012 July 22-27, 2012 Munich, Germany 5th Conference on Peer Washington, DC, USA Education, Sexuality, and International Conference HIV & AIDS International Conference on Adolescent Sexual and June 13-15, 2012 on Gender Based Violence Reproductive Health and Nairobi, Kenya August 1-5, 2012 HIV/AIDS Nairobi, Kenya March 12-16, 2012 Best Practices in Social Enugu, Nigeria Work and HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis 2012: June 14-15, 2012 Biology, Pathogenesis, 28th Annual Scientific Montreal, Canada Intervention Strategies Conference and General September 11-15, 2012 Meeting of the Association 39th Annual Conference of Paris, France of Public Health Physicians the Global Health Council of Nigeria (APHPN) July 18-21, 2012 March 19-23, 2012 Washington, DC, USA ** These events are officially Calabar, Nigeria affiliated with AIDS 2012, the XIX International AIDS

Conference.

HIV/AIDS Twinning Center

American International Health Alliance The HIV/AIDS Twinning Center mobilizes and coordinates 1250 Eye Street, NW the resources of healthcare and allied professionals in the Suite 350 United States and abroad to effectively build capacity to Washington, DC 20005 reduce HIV infection rates and provide care to those infected with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in support of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Phone: 202.789.1136 Fax: 202.789.1277 Funded by PEPFAR through a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Twinning Center is a project of the American International Health Alliance, a Visit us on the Web at US-based nonprofit dedicated to helping limited-resource www.TwinningAgainstAIDS.org communities make positive, sustainable changes that improve accessibility to a broad range of high-quality healthcare services and preventive programs. The contents of this newsletter are the responsibility of AIHA and the Twinning Center and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States government or other funding agencies.