Thursday, 7 January – The University of Washington has partnered with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States HIV/AIDS Project Unit (OECS/HAPU) and the National AIDS Programme, in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, to offer the distance learning course entitled Clinical Approaches to HIV Management.
Assistant Coordinator of the National AIDS Programme Mrs. Noelene Clarke told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the certificate course will provide training and context for the global AIDS epidemic, which is arguably the most pressing public health issue of our time.
“It will equip future professionals in health and social science disciplines to address the complex interplay of biomedical, social, economic, gender, political, and geographic factors that impact the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections or STIs,” said Mrs. Clarke.
In addition to education about the diseases themselves, she noted, students will learn about contextual issues surrounding the HIV/STI epidemic including individual, family, community, and societal points of interaction. The assistant coordinator also said that various prevention and treatment approaches will be explored with a focus on vulnerable populations such as commercial sex workers and intravenous drug users.
“The programme examines these disease epidemics from both domestic and global perspectives and students will interact with professionals who are currently working in the field of AIDS and STIs in clinical, research, and programme management capacities,” Mrs. Clarke further noted.
The British Virgin Islands join several OECS member states, Jamaica, Mozambique, Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Tanzania in offering the course.
Participants will be required to attend two-hour lecture sessions once per week for a ten week period from January 5 until the end of March 2010. For more information about this programme or anything else related to HIV, STIs, testing sites, treatment, care, and support the public may contact the Assistant Coordinator, National AIDS Programme, Mrs. Noelene Clarke at 468-9785 or 442-2265 or email nclarke@gov.vg.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Territory.
British Virgin Islands News