The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas, Minister of Health, Sierra Leone visits UTHSC-H
The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas (minister of health and sanitation, Republic of Sierra Leone) visited The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston on June 5, 2006 as part of a series of visits to international destinations. Saving Lives through Alternate Options (SLAO) hosted the minister during her stay in Houston. Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH welcomed the minister to UTHSC-H and introduced the Honorable Minister Thomas to attendees. The Honorable Minister Thomas gave a presentation on the state of health in Sierra Leone as it relates to post-war development and challenges, especially in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Michael W. Ross, PhD, MPH, MHPEd led an interactive discussion session between the Honorable Minister Thomas and the audience. Attendees included UTHSC-H 's Dean Catherine Flaitz of the Dental Branch, faculty and students, TMC representative, Mary Schifflett, SLAO representatives, and representatives from other institutions, such as Texas Children’s Hospital. During the visit, the Honorable Minister Thomas signed an agreement of cooperation with UTHSC-H that establishes a common interest in cooperation and collaborations between UTHSC-H and the Republic of Sierra Leone. The Honorable Minister Thomas also discussed possible collaborations with attendees at her presentation. As part of her travels, the Minister also visited Switzerland where she attended a World Health Organization meeting, and the United Nations in New York City where she attended a special session with other heads of states and governments representatives. There, she participated in a review of the progress of the targets set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS as well as funding of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs by the UN. SLAO is a non-profit community-based agency that serves African Americans, Caribbean’s and Hispanics on a wide range of issues and program services including healthcare, immigration, human trafficking, substance abuse education and refugee services.
The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas presents to the group	The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas
The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas	(left to right) Sheryl A. McCurdy, PhD, Dean Catherine Flaitz, Pamela Lewis
(standing) Michael W. Ross, PhD, MPH, MPHEd (seated, left to right) Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH, The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas	(standing) Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH (seated) The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas
Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH and group	Dean Catherine Flaitz with The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas
Lowell E. Sever, PhD, Lu-Yu Hwang, MD, Peter Swaray, Moustapha Kane	Dean Catherine Flaitz with audience
The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas with Kishore Shetty, DDS	Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH with The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas
(seated, left to right) Victoria Sulimani, The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas, Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH (standing, left to right) Matthew Momoh, Mohammed Kargbo, Sheryl A. McCurdy, PhD, Judith C. Lahai-Momoh, MPH, Michael W. Ross, PhD, MPH, MPHEd, Peter Swaray	The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas signs an Agreement of Cooperation with UTHSC-H
Michael W. Ross, PhD, MPH, MPHEd with The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas	The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas speaks with guests
(left to right) Mohammed Kargbo, Matthew Momoh, Abiodun Oluyomi, MS	(left to right) The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas, Matthew Momoh, Abiodun Oluyomi, MS
(left to right) Brigitte Fominyam, Victoria Sulimani, Adiah Spinks-Franklin, MD	(left to right) Victoria Sulimani, The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas, Judith C. Lahai-Momoh, MPH
The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas with guests	(left to right) Peter Swaray, Abiodun Oluyomi, MS, Lu-Yu Hwang, MD, Sheryl A. McCurdy, PhD
The Honorable Abator Medwin Thomas, Gene Stevenson, DDS, Dean Catherine Flaitz, Sheryl A. McCurdy, PhD