A U.S. Academic Partnership With The Rift Valley

August 11, 2009

Commissioner Mike Merson is the Director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University. It's only natural that he and his team would go to the Rift Valley to study a unique collaboration between American universities and African partners to help combat HIV and other health issues. The program operates at 19 locations in Africa and cares for over 55,000 HIV patients.

More on AMPATH, from the University of Indiana's School of Medicine:

AMPATH is a working model of urban and rural HIV preventive and treatment services in the public sector. AMPATH cares for more than 55,000 HIV infected adults and children, with nearly one-half of all patients on anti-retroviral drugs, and enrollment into the program rising by 2,000 patients per month. A robust program to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV has been initiated including an opt-out testing policy and programs fostering triple anti-retroviral therapy of pregnant woman and formula feeding of newborns. AMPATH has implemented programs that foster food and economic security for HIV infected persons and their families. AMPATH demonstrates the power of US and African academic medical centers united by common vision.

Without a doubt, universities can play an integral role in the future of global health. We look forward to hearing what the team learns from the experiences of AMPATH.