Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 24, 2006|Volume 34, Number 23

Project will aid Ethiopia's HIV/AIDS patients

Yale is part of an international partnership aimed at boosting treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS and other diseases in Ethiopia.

The University and the William J. Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative have joined forces with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to launch the Ethiopian Hospital Management Initiative (EHMI), an effort to improve management of the nation's public hospital system.

EHMI began at the request of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebeysus, the Ethiopian minister of health, as part of efforts by the Clinton Foundation to expand and improve treatment for people with HIV/AIDS.

As part of the Yale-Clinton Foundation Fellowship in International Healthcare Management, a team of 20 to 25 experienced mentors from the United States and other countries will spend one year working side-by-side with directors of 10 to 12 public hospitals and health bureaus in Ethiopia. With their Ethiopian partners, this group will identify systemic changes that can improve access to -- and delivery of -- health care services to the population of 76 million people.

"I am pleased to be working with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and Yale University in this partnership to expand the availability of services and care for people living with HIV/AIDS throughout Ethiopia," said President Bill Clinton. "This joint effort has the potential to strengthen the overall delivery of healthcare in Ethiopia."

President Richard C. Levin said: "Yale is pleased to join with the Clinton Foundation and Ethiopia's health care leaders to identify and implement the steps that will improve patient treatment throughout the nation. Yale researchers are eager to add their expertise to an effort that can advance significantly the battle against AIDS in Ethiopia."

Ghebeysus noted: "The agreement with the Clinton Foundation is unique because it includes capacity building of the health care system which is very crucial as indicated in the country's strategic plan for health care, We want the Yale-Clinton Foundation mentors to think outside the box, tell us what they see and what they recommend, and then we will consider it. Whatever we do in these hospitals, we will export to other hospitals in Ethiopia."

Elizabeth H. Bradley, professor of public health and director of the project at Yale, said: "Dr. Tedros and the Ministry of Health are visionary. They have impressive goals to transform the Ethiopian health care system in the next three to five years and I believe those goals can be achieved."

The Yale team has just returned from Ethiopia, where they completed a full needs assessment. They are now recruiting fellows to serve as leaders and mentors in this effort.

Since 2002, the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative has been assisting countries in implementing large-scale integrated care, treatment and prevention programs. It partners with 20 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. Individual governments take the lead, and the foundation provides technical assistance, mobilizes human and financial resources, and facilitates the sharing of best practices across projects. The foundation also provides access to reduced-priced HIV/AIDS drugs and diagnostics to over 50 countries.

In addition, in April 2005, the HIV/AIDS Initiative launched pediatric and rural programs. The pediatric program aims to assist countries in implementing widespread treatment for children living with HIV/AIDS -- beginning with a program to donate ARV treatment for 10,000 children in the program's first year. This effort has nearly doubled the number of children on treatment in developing countries outside of Brazil and Thailand. The rural program endeavors to extend access to high-quality care and treatment to people living beyond the reach of traditional healthcare services. In Rwanda, the rural program collaborates with Partners In Health.

The HIV/AIDS Initiative relies on hundreds of part-time and full-time volunteers. There are presently more than 300 people in developing countries and the United States working for the initiative.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Shauna King named vice president for finance and administration

Project will aid Ethiopia's HIV/AIDS patients

Team finds gene that can prevent kidney stones

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Researchers identify the function of protein in nerve cell growth

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'Mabou Mines Dollhouse' is an untraditional rendition of classic play

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Former Yale Daily News editor to pursue journalism work in Asia . . .

Civil rights in American law to be addressed in talk

Castle Lectures will explore the costs and advantages . . .

In Memoriam: George F. Mahl

Dwight Hall hosts an online and silent auction to raise funds . . .

PIER seminar aims to link ancient and modern history of Iran

Yale Books in Brief

Campus Notes

Correction