HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced a new three-year, $1.5 million agreement to provide overseas health care providers with the latest training and education on caring for people with HIV/AIDS.

Under the first-of-its-kind partnership, the schools of medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and the University of California-San Francisco will create the first International AIDS Education and Training Center, or IAETC.  The IAETC will be located at the University of Washington.

“We know that HIV and AIDS education is a key to saving lives,” Thompson said. “This project will help us share the latest treatment and care information initially with health care providers in Africa and India to help stem the spread of HIV and AIDS. Ultimately, we hope to expand the services offered to other regions of the world.”

Last year an estimated 40 million people around the world were living with HIV/AIDS, the vast majority in countries in Africa and Asia.  Individuals there are often unable to obtain the same high-quality care available in more industrialized nations.

The two medical schools will work together to improve providers ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent HIV disease, including ways to prevent mother-to-child transmission, measures to prevent and treat opportunistic infections, and the appropriate use of antiretroviral therapy.  In addition, the schools will develop training on the planning, design, and management of regional and national HIV/AIDS training programs and HIV/AIDS care facilities and programs.  Long-term technical support will be provided to help partner governments develop a trained cadre of HIV/AIDS care providers and trainers.  

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