ICEHA's Programs

Program Overview
ICEHA is assisting with the build-up of HIV/AIDS medical expertise within the Vietnamese public healthcare infrastructure. ARVs are now being introduced in Vietnam’s public healthcare sector, and the local healthcare providers need to become confident and knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

In order to make ARVs effectively available to patients in Vietnam, ICEHA volunteers have been requested to provide clinical mentoring in clinics starting approximately 1 month before the arrival of the medication until approximately 6 months later, in consecutive periods of several weeks. ICEHA’s clinical mentoring model is a cornerstone to local empowerment and the creation of a healthcare system capable of handling the growing HIV epidemic.

Achievements

• Clinics throughout the country have been “mentored out” and are now caring for patients on their own without assistance from foreign clinical mentors. As a result, thousands of patients are now receiving quality HIV care and antiretroviral medications are being provided to those in need. The local providers are not only able to provide care to their own patients but are now HIV experts in their province and are training other Vietnamese healthcare workers.

Clinical Mentor Volunteers Needed

• Adult and pediatric HIV specialists, as well as those with experience with IV drug users, are needed throughout 2008 in Vietnam. Non-medical professionals with significant HIV experience (including social workers and health educators) are also welcome to apply.
• The minimum time commitment for clinical mentors is 6 weeks. Expenses are paid.
• To apply, visit the “Volunteers” section of our website.