Riley A, Darkoh E, Mazonde P, Fantan T; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. B12588.

ACHAP, Gaborone, Botswana

Issues: Preceptorship training program trains all relevant health care workers in all ARV sites in Botswana. Preceptors are HIV / AIDS specialist physicians and nurses from partner institutions abroad who are seconded to each site for 6 months to provide cadre specific theoretical and clinical training. Preceptors provide management support as well as training at their sites. Preceptors fulfill certain qualifications and qualities. Definition: Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in Internal Medicine / Infectious Diseases at registrar level or higher post. Experience in working in public health systems, organizing health services. Experience living and working in an African or other developing country desirable. Proven record of experience in training in HIV AIDS management. Willingness to adjust to variable conditions of developing world. Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills. Ability to understand public health systems and willingness to assist in defining referral mechanisms between facilities and separate programs within the health system. Willingness to be deployed without family or partners. Commitment to mobility. Flexible and independent personality. Lessons Learned: Preceptorship training program not only provides managerial support and training but also confidence and quality control at site level. Preceptors must be highly specialized HIV AIDS specialists and must have a broad understanding of patients' relationships with public health systems and must possess good management skills. Due to cost sharing, geographical convenience and urgency of training needs one preceptors must be prepared to train multiple sites within an commutable area. Recommendations: In selecting preceptors for training programs in developing countries not only qualifications and clinical HIV/AIDS experience but also personal skills and broader understanding of organizing services in public health settings should be considered.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Botswana
• Developing Countries
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Personnel
• Health Planning Guidelines
• Humans
• Physicians
• Preceptorship
• Public Health
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0032759

UI: 102276973

From Meeting Abstracts