[procaare] ICEHA Initiative: African Practitioners share HIV treatment expertise

["Larisa Bomlitz" <lbomlitz@iceha.org>]

ANNOUNCING ICEHA Regional Initiative:  HIV/AIDS practitioners from
Sub-Saharan Africa share their HIV treatment expertise with colleagues
in the region
- Larisa Bomlitz
**************

About ICEHA

ICEHA is an international not-for-profit organization that engages
experienced healthcare professionals to rapidly transfer their expertise
on HIV care and infectious diseases to colleagues in developing
countries, using an innovative method of clinical mentoring. ICEHA's
clinical mentors coach their local colleagues, giving them the practical
skills needed to provide the best HIV care possible. As a result of the
dedication by ICEHA's clinical mentors, thousands of patients are
receiving HIV care when none existed before; care delivered by their own
healthcare providers, within existing resource limitations.

What is ICHEA'S Initiative for Experienced Healthcare Workers in
Sub-Saharan Africa? 

While prices of antiretroviral drugs (ARV) have been lowered, the
expansion of large-scale treatment and prevention programs has been
severely impeded by the lack of clinical expertise and operational
systems required for HIV delivery.  A new initiative developed to
increase the capabilities of healthcare systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
responds to the devastating impacts of HIV. ICEHA mobilizes the wealth
of expertise amongst healthcare professionals already living in the
region to guide their colleagues and help equip them with the necessary
practical skills and operational systems so that they too can deliver
the best care possible within the existing resource limitations.
Indeed, they are amongst those most suitable to transfer their practical
skills in HIV/AIDS care to their colleagues.  

ICEHA's Role

ICEHA recruits, screens, and prepares the selected volunteer clinical
mentors prior to deployment and provides ongoing quality control and
support during field assignments.  While expenses are paid, ICEHA
clinical mentors typically donate between 6 - 12 weeks of their time to
provide on-site coaching in clinics in the public sector.  In order to
ensure effectiveness and optimal program implementation, ICEHA works by
invitation of a government or a local non governmental organization
(NGO) only.  

The ICEHA Regional Initiative engages clinical mentors living in
Sub-Saharan Africa who are healthcare professionals with extensive
experience treating HIV-infected patients (including those on
antiretroviral therapy) and have the passion and dedication to share
that knowledge with their colleagues in areas where ARVs are only now
being introduced.  Most professionals typically take an approved
short-term leave of absence from their current jobs to which they return
upon completion of their ICEHA clinical mentoring assignment.

ICEHA does not offer long-term job placement and it is our policy to
collaborate with organizations and employers so that qualified health
professionals are able to contribute to scaling-up health systems in the
region then return to continue their work at home. 

In each country where we work, ICEHA's endeavors have lead directly to
significant increases in the number of patients in HIV care and on AIDS
treatment as well as to a significant improvement in overall care
provided. 

For More Information

To find our more information or to apply to volunteer for assignments
starting in 2007 visit www.iceha.org or contact
Mrs. Katie Graves-Abe at kgravesabe@iceha.org 

 
International Center for Equal Healthcare Access    
www.iceha.org
The global leader in clinical skills rapid transfer to emerging nations

Larisa J Bomlitz, MPH 
Communications Manager
Email: lbomlitz@iceha.org