The International Center for Equal Healthcare Access

Program Overview
At the request of, and in close collaboration with, the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology, and STDs in Cambodia (NCHADS), ICEHA is providing clinical mentoring to healthcare providers at the provincial referral hospitals in Cambodia, leading to HIV treatment and care for all HIV-infected patients in the country.

For years the Ministry of Health in Cambodia has orchestrated effective HIV prevention programs. By mid-2004 funding for making antiretroviral (ARV) medication available through the public sector was obtained by the Cambodian government. Even though the limited number of existing local physicians received didactic ART training, it was felt that didactic training does not give them the confidence or competence to deliver good HIV care in their practice. Hence NCHADS approached ICEHA with a request for clinical mentors. There has been a significant uptake of ART under guidance by ICEHA’s clinical mentors. In the past 18 months, Cambodia, which does not receive funding through PEPFAR but does receive funding from the Global Fund, managed to put 10,500 AIDS patients on treatment through its public healthcare infrastructure. Some of the clinics were set up with as little as $1,000 and yet had 100 patients on antiretroviral treatment within the first month.

Achievements

ICEHA's first clinical mentor volunteers arrived in Cambodia in September 2004.
In the first 8 months of the program, 6 teams of clinical mentors provided training to 57 healthcare providers (12 MDs, 36 RNs, 9 others).
In 2006, the program moved to the next stage in which Western clinical mentors worked with local HIV experts to provide training throughout the country.

Clinical Mentor Volunteers Needed

HIV physicians and nurses are needed throughout 2007.
The minimum time commitment is 3 months; expenses are paid and a monthly stipend is also provided.
To apply, visit the “Volunteers” section of our website.