22 World Health Leaders visit UTHSC-H as Part of "Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS" Program Hosted by the U.S. State Department
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston hosted a delegation organized by the U.S. State Department as part of the program “Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS.” The 22 member group was comprised of government officials, private sector leaders and opinion-makers, health officials and medical professionals, community educators and social leaders, journalists, and others representing 21 countries:
Belize Ms. Allison Colleen Williams Contact Tracing Investigator/Counselor Port Loyola Health Center Comprehensive Clinic Costa Rica Dr. Anayanci Coward Morales Chief, Pediatric Unit, Talmanca Area Costa Rican Institution for Social Security (CCSS) Dominica Ms. Julie Gilles Frampton National HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator El Salvador Dr. Rolando Alberto Cedillos Ortiz Head, HIV/AIDS Program Rosales National Hospital Estonia Dr. Kristi Ruutel Expert on HIV/AIDS National Institute for Health Development Ethiopia Dr. Tsehaynesh Messele Giday Director Ethiopia Health and Nutritional Research Institute Hungary Ms. Brigitta Gyebnar Head Councilor Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health Lesotho Ms. Mamorao Mabel Khaebana Behavior Change Community Manager Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Malawi Dr. Douglas Komani Lungu Medical Director Ekwendeni Mission Hospital Mexico Mr. Hector Escamilla Tecalco Acting Director for Prevention National Center for AIDS Prevention and Council (CENSIDA) Nigeria Mr. Uchenna Kinsley Anunne Health-Education Correspondent New Nigerian Newspapers Pakistan Dr. Kiran Zulfiqar Project Physician Savoir Faire Counseling, Testing and Referral Center Peru Dr. Giselle Marlene Soto Castellares Medical Researcher PRISMA Saudi Arabia Dr. Majdi Hassan M. Altoukhi Chief Operation Officer (COO) Elaj Medical Group South Africa Mr. Gustav Eldrid Wilson Director Department of Correctional Services South Africa Ms. Siphumelele Zulu Deputy Manager Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), Provincial AIDS Action Unit Department of Health Suriname Ms. Wendy Emanuelson Telgt Prevention Coordinator Suriname National AIDS Program Swaziland Mr. Mandlenkosi Vincent Mazibuko HIV/AIDS Program Manager Save the Children Fund Taiwan Ms. Yu-Chen Hsu Research Assistant Center for Disease Control, Department of Health Tunisia Dr. Amira Afifa Afifa Mdimegh Training Director Tunisian Association of Fight Against AIDS Uganda Dr. James Kisambu Acting Medical Superintendent Kaabong Hospital Zambia Dr. Grave Singogo Consultant Pediatrician St. Jones Medical Center
The following U.S. State Department English Language Officers accompanied the group: Ms. Connie Vasquez Ms. Viviane Silverman Mr. Alan Rudley During their visit, Sheryl A. McCurdy, MA, PhD, assistant professor of Behavioral Sciences, and Michael Ross, MA, MS, PhD, MPH, MHPEd, professor of Behavioral Sciences, of the School of Public Health presented “Injecting drug users and HIV risk in East Africa”, a compilation of a joint study with Professors Gad Paul Kilonzo and M.T. Leshabari, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mark Williams, PhD, associate professor of Behavioral Sciences, is the principal investigator of this NIDA funded research. The presentation discussed the various trends, both social and cultural, that are contributing or that may be a factor in the spread of HIV. Of particular interest to the group was a technique initially discovered among some female Tanzanian drug users called ‘flashblood’. In order to avoid the withdrawal effects of users unable to obtain heroin, flashblood is the injection of blood withdrawn from another heroin user. During the discussion, Dr. Kiran Zulfiqar concurred with the finding that flashblood was also emerging as a practice in Pakistan. Additionally, as part of their request to learn more about zoonotic diseases and public health efforts to prevent their spread, Professor Emeritus James H. Steele, DVM, MPH presented, in conjunction with Gbadebo Ogungbade, DVM, MPH, on “Zoonosis encounters a new disease in HIV”. Dr. Steele provided information on his professional experience in various zoonotic diseases that have become issues for humans, including brucellosis, tuberculosis, malaria, SARS, and now the Avian Flu. The group came to UTHSC-H as part of a comprehensive program in which they visited and toured various organizations and institutions nationwide.
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michael McKinney, MD welcomes the group to UTHSC-H
Hui-Ming Chang, MD, MPH addresses the group and gives an overview of UTHSC-H
Dr. Michael W. Ross, MA, MS, PhD, MPH, MHPEd together with Dr. Sheryl A. McCurdy, MA, PhD gives presentation on "Injecting drug users and HIV risk in East Africa"	Dr. Sheryl A. McCurdy
Group members listen to presentation	Dr. Sheryl A. McCurdy
Dr. Michael W. Ross
Drs. Sheryl A. McCurdy and Michael W. Ross	Dr. Kiran Zulfiqar discusses with presentors knowledge of 'flashblood' in India and Pakistan
Group members listen to presentation	Drs. Sheryl A. McCurdy and Michael W. Ross discuss a drug usage map with group
Drs. Sheryl A. McCurdy and Michael W. Ross address questions from the group	Mr. Uchenna Kinsley Anunne participates in discussion
Dr. James H. Steele, DVM, MPH presents to the group
Group members listen to presentations	Dr. Gbadebo Ogungbade, DVM, MPH presents to the group
Group members approach Dr. Steele following his presentation	Mr. Uchenna Kinsley Anunne and Dr. Gbadebo Ogungbade