Press Releases 2004

USPACOM-AFMS Sponsor HIV/AIDS Policy Workshop in Pune

August 31, 2004

NEW DELHI -- The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) and the Indian Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS) will hold an international HIV/AIDS Policy Workshop and Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program for senior military command and medical officers in Pune, September 2-6.

The five-day conference, entitled "HIV/AIDS: The Military Face: Together We Shall Overcome," will be held at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. This conference is designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the HIV/AIDS issue in the military, present policy issues and challenges in combating HIV/AIDS, highlight best practices for HIV/AIDS mitigation in the military, present the latest medical technologies in AIDS treatment and allow interface between multiple agencies and military attendees.

International and local AIDS experts from both the military and the civilian community will contribute presentations at the event. Over 100 Indian military officers and military delegates from the Asia Pacific/South Asia region are expected to attend the conference.

This HIV/AIDS Policy Workshop and CME are supported by the USPACOM's bilateral military-to-military HIV/AIDS program with the Indian Military. The U.S. Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program funds this bilateral program. The purpose of PACOM's HIV/AIDS activities in India is to augment the Indian Armed Forces Medical Service's developing HIV/AIDS program and to contribute to the human resources of the Indian Military to effectively address HIV/AIDS, to facilitate the improvement of its HIV/AIDS laboratory capacity, and to foster the development of collaborative international HIV/AIDS prevention activities that will improve prevention, treatment and care in the Indian military and throughout the South Asia region.

The PACOM's implementing agent for this HIV/AIDS Initiative is the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE). COE medical and administrative staff supports Indian medical officers from the AFMS in the development and execution of activities.

For more information, contact:

• MAJ Solomon Zewdu, Deputy Medical Director, Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance and USPACAF - International Health Specialist, in Honolulu, HI USA at 808-433- 1435, or after August 29 in Pune at the Sun and Sand Hotel, 262 Bund Garden Road, Pune, India at 011-91-11-020-26137777, fax 011-91-11-020-26134747, email solomon.zewdu@coe-dmha.org
  


• For information on COE, contact Robin Hayden, Public Affairs Officer, Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, in Honolulu, HI at 808-433-1433, fax 808-433-6361, email robin.hayden@coe-dmha.org