 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Elizabeth Sommers, MPH, LicAc, Research Dept., AIDS CARE PROJECT, 140 Clarendon Street, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, 617-859-3036 ext. 24, bsommers@pathwaystcm.org
The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project is an international collaboration of public health workers who promote the use of acupuncture in treating individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This presentation will describe a partnership that has been formed in Uganda with the public health infrastructure, including providers, policy-makers, and faculty at university’s medical and public health schools. Acupuncture can be used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS to control pain, improve energy, minimize digestive side-effects of medications and improve quality of life. Treatment with acupuncture is a low-cost intervention that can be easily taught to health care professionals such as physicians, nurses and midwives in a “barefoot doctor” model. At the invitation of Ugandan counter-parts, acupuncturists from the U.S. have begun an ongoing project to teach simple treatment protocols to medical professionals. Following a 2-week training period, health care workers return to their clinics, hospitals, and community health centers to begin implementing treatment. The program has the support of government leaders, the Society of Women against AIDS in Africa (SWAA), local unions and civic leaders, as well as the Makerere University’s CDC-affiliates. Teams of physicians and nurses from 5 urban and rural health care settings comprised the first cohort of Ugandan trainees. Key elements of the program include evaluation of the training process and treatment outcomes, ability to build capacity in participating centers, and ensuring that the model is both replicable and flexible. An assessment of cost-effectiveness and sustainability will also be discussed. The first training is scheduled for Winter, 2003.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, HIV Interventions
Related Web page: www.panafricanacupuncture.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: PanAfrican Acupuncture Project
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am a research and evaluation consultant for the PanAfrican Acupuncture Project