"As medical students on the island, we have a unique opportunity to witness and participate in the development and installment of a national AIDS prevention strategy here on Dominica."
HIV/AIDS is a growing threat in the global health care system. With no definitive cure in sight, managing and preventing the passage of the disease has become the best course of action for health care providers.
However, many of the prevention strategies utilized in developed countries are too costly and intricate for developing nations to utilize. Nevertheless, there has been a recent increase in aide for disadvantaged nations with the aim of establishing programs that curb the spread of HIV and increase prevention education. Dominica is in the process of developing a stronger national HIV/AIDS strategy, including survey and prevalence testing on a national level. Additionally, The Dominican National Ministry of Health has developed a five-year plan to install a number of HIV/AIDS initiatives.
AIDS project Dominica is a relatively new venture for AMSA at Ross developed with the intention of providing HIV/AIDS education and preliminary HIV screening to the people of Dominica. At this time we have developed a proposal for acquiring rapid screening HIV tests by a US pharmaceutical company. Rapid screening test methods will include either the traditional phlebotomy, fingertip prick, or buckle smear techniques. The proposal calls for small teams of health professionals and Ross students to be intimately involved with the surveying, testing, and education of Dominican patients. This coming year we are concentrating our efforts towards building a public task force that is responsible for the outreach efforts in small communities and public schools. A pamphlet 'Guide to Sexual Health Concerns' has been developed to accompany the public task force in educating the public. An informational seminar on the picture of HIV/AIDS on Dominica has been planned for the semester in order to inform students, faculty, and Dominican health professionals about the situation on the island and measures against its propagation. In conjunction with Sylabia Mission Project we are also researching means to conduct a Epidemiological study on the sexual practices and behavior of indigenous people in Carib region on the northeast corner of the island. The survey will help us to better assist the local people. If you are interested in learning more, or becoming a part of this endeavor, please contact: zartseri@rossmed.edu.dm corinneklein@rossmed.edu.dm |