Development and operation of a clinical mentorship program for pediatric HIV care and treatment in U

1
Development and operation of a clinical
mentorship program for pediatric HIV care and
treatment in Uganda

• Edward Bitarakwate, MD MPH
• Technical Director
• EGPAF Uganda

2
Definitions

• WHO 2005 clinical mentorship is a system of
  practical training and consultation that fosters
  ongoing professional development to yield
  sustainable quality clinical care outcomes.
• Mentoring should be seen as part of the continuum
  of education required to create competent health
  care providers.
  

3

• Goal
• To build new sustainable capacity for improved
  expanded decentralized pediatric HIV treatment
  expertise
  
• Specific Objectives
• Support application of classroom learning to
  patient care
  
• Support decentralized pediatric HIV service
  delivery and clinical expertise at lower levels
  
• Improve health worker motivation by providing
  effective technical support
  
• Maintain high clinical standards and practices

4
Approach

• Development of Conceptual Framework for a
  National Clinical Mentor Program
  
• Participatory Approach to Designing the Program
• Selection of Potential Mentors
• Professional Development of Mentors
• Coordination and Supervision

5
Outcomes/Challenges

• 16 medical doctors from 7 regions have been
  recruited in program. Ave 1 visit per health
  center per month
  
• While local training and leadership capacity has
  been developed there are a low number of
  available experienced clinicians to support this
  program.

6
Recommendations

• As part of efforts to deliver scaled up
  prevention treatment and care infrastructure for
  children affected by HIV/AIDS it is feasible to
  develop a clinical mentorship program based
  primarily on locally available resource persons.
  

7
Acknowledgements

•  International Family AIDS Initiatives Staff
  Uganda, Regional and USA
  
• Uganda Ministry of Health
• Partner Organizations incl. but not limited to
  JCRC, SCMS, AHF/Uganda Cares
  
• This presentation was made possible through
  support provided by the Office of HIV/AIDS,
  Global Bureau Center for Population, Health and
  Nutrition, of the United States Agency for
  International Development (USAID), through the
  Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
  (PEPFAR), as part of the Elizabeth Glaser
  Pediatric AIDS Foundation's International Family
  AIDS Initiatives (Call To Action Project/
  Cooperative Agreement No. GPH-A-00-02-00011-00).
  The opinions expressed herein are those of the
  authors and do not necessarily reflect the views
  of USAID.