HIV/AIDS has emerged as a major threat to mankind in the last two decades. The disease has reached epidemic proportions in the world ravaging several commonwealth nations, particularly sub-Saharan African countries and parts of Asia and the Caribbean. India has the largest number of people living with AIDS in the world. UNAIDS has estimated that more than 90 percent of all adult HIV infections are in these countries.
Keeping these in mind, the Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon’s in his World Health Day address stated that the Commonwealth is home to 30% of the world’s population yet 60% of it is maternal deaths and HIV/AIDS cases.
Evidently, the Heads of the Commonwealth countries have emphasized the need for creating an appropriate policy environment and management of HIV/AIDS in the member countries. The governments of the member countries and other stakeholders have taken steps to actively confront the epidemic. However, it is important for the people working in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, care and support, to have a better understanding of the policy environment and enhanced understanding of related issues/dimensions. Resources are limited and the spread of the disease is menacing. Thus it becomes essential that the policy makers and programme managers develop skills to manage and think strategically to make the best use of the resources and to effectively implement effective and efficient programmes.
Background
The Commonwealth Secretariat initiated this management development programme in 2004 for its member-countries with the aim to transfer the knowledge and build-the capacities to effectively draw the policy, planning and managing of HIV/AIDS programmes. The Commonwealth Secretariat has been able to bring about desired transformation in the programmatic environment through partnership with its member-countries. In the process, it has been able to integrate a strategic thinking for effective implementation of HIV/AIDS pathways programmes in its respective member countries through this type of management development programmes.
The programme has been designed and developed in collaboration with the Governance & Institutional Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, for the policy makers at the national level, and programme managers at the national, provincial/state level. In addition, scientists working on HIV/AIDS at the national institutes in various Commonwealth countries may also be nominated. The nominations will be done through the Commonwealth Secretariat, Governance & Institutional Development Division, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SWIY 5 HX (Telephone: 44 (0) 20 7747 6343, Fax : 44 (0) 20 7747 6540/6335).
Programme Objectives
The main focus of the training programme is on developing an understanding of policy review and analysis, and planning and management in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the context of Asia Pacific Region. The objectives of the programme are as follows:
To familiarize the participants with overall policy analysis, planning and formulation process
To critically examine various dimensions and issues related to HIV/AIDS policies and programme implementation
To develop basic skills of operational management of HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes in the regional perspective
To help develop a matrix of country’s perspective policy issues and strategic management
Duration
The programme will be offered for a period of one week (5 days) during July 24-29,2006.
Participants
The number of participants is limited to 20. The programme addresses the competency needs of policy and decision makers and programme managers in policy review and analysis, and programme management knowledge and skills.
Contents
The course will cover the following broad areas:
Review of the global efforts being made in HIV/AIDS related policies and programmes
Approaches to policy analysis and planning
Policy initiatives and programme management issues
Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in HIV/AIDS
Role of non-governmental organizations and the private sector
Financing of HIV/AIDS programme initiatives
Quality of care
Leadership and management in HIV/AIDS prevention and control
Training Approach
The training will be participatory and issue-based. There will be an optimal mix of lecture sessions, group work and discussions. The participants will be given exposure to field and programme management at the provincial and district levels. They will be administered selected HRD instruments to analyze their own leadership and managerial styles. They will be asked to prepare a policy matrix and plan of implementation for their respective areas/countries and present the outcome to the group. A pre- and post-training evaluation will be conducted and expectations of the participants will be elicited.
Participating Countries
Only the following countries nominations are accepted for full-fledged sponsorships / fellowships. The interested candidates should approach their country’s Point-of Contact for nomination.
1) Bangladesh
2) Brunei Darussalam
3) Malaysia
4) Maldives
5) Pakistan
6) Singapore
7) Sri Lanka
Faculty and Resource Persons
The programme will be conducted by highly experienced international experts and the faculty of the Indian Institute of Health Management Research and programme managers in India.
The Programme Co-ordinators are
Dr. S.D. Gupta, Director
Dr. N. Ravichandran, Coordinator
Course Fee and Travel
The course fee, board and lodging and travel expenses will be paid by the Governance & Institutional Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat. Accommodation will be provided on twin sharing basis.
Venue
Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR)
1, Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur-302 011, India.
Tel: (91) 141-2791431-34
Fax: (91) 141-2792138
E-mail: iihmr@iihmr.org,
Website: www.iihmr.org,
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Application Procedure and Deadline
The applicants are requested to fill the attached application form (please click on the link above to see the attached application form).
The application form may be photocopied or downloaded from the website: www.thecommonwealth.org or www.iihmr.org
Interested persons are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to allow enough time for visa and travel arrangements.
Please send in the application form by June 30, 2006 to the Commonwealth Secretariat with a copy to the Director, IIHMR on the following address:
Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR)
1, Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur-302 011, India
Tel: (91) 141-2791431-34
Fax: (91) 141-2792138
E-mail: sdgupta@iihmr.org; ravi@iihmr.org
