Same-visit HIV testing in Trinidad and Tobago

BACKGROUND: The Ministry of Health (hereafter, Ministry) of Trinidad and Tobago is responsible for delivery of all health services in the country. The Ministry takes responsibility for direct delivery of care in the public sector and has initiated a process whereby those seeking HIV test results could obtain confidential reports during a single-visit to a testing location. The Ministry requested technical assistance with this process from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC). The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) played an important role in this process through its partnership with CAREC. METHODS: Under the technical guidance of CAREC and CDC, the Ministry organized a technical working group which included representatives from key national HIV program services and technical assistance partners. This working group reviewed internationally-recognized best practices for HIV rapid testing and proposed a program that could be integrated into the national HIV programs of Trinidad and Tobago. The working group wrote a consensus protocol, defined certification criteria, prepared training materials and oversaw implementation of "same-visit" HIV testing at two pilot sites. RESULTS: A Ministry-of-Health-supported program of "same-visit" HIV testing has been established in Trinidad and Tobago. This program provides confidential testing that is independent of laboratory confirmation. The program allows clients who want to know their HIV status to obtain this information during a single-visit to a testing location. Testers who are certified to provide testing on behalf of the Ministry are also counselors. Non-laboratory personnel have been trained to provide HIV testing in non-laboratory locations. The program includes procedures to assure uniform quality of testing across multiple testing sites. Several procedural and training documents were developed during implementation of this program. This report contains links to those documents. CONCLUSIONS: The Ministry of Health has implemented a program of "same-visit" HIV testing in Trinidad and Tobago. This program provides clients confidential HIV test reports during a single visit to a testing location. The program is staffed by non-laboratory personnel who are trained to provide both testing and counseling in decentralized (non-laboratory) settings. This approach may serve as a model for other small countries.

Library and information literacy curriculum

This Library and Information Literacy Curriculum, the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago, was developed to ensure that our students are prepared to meet the challenges of the information age. Unlike other curricula, it is not meant to be used on its own, but must be applied to other areas of the curriculum. The objectives of this curriculum are to be intergrated with those of subject-specific curricula in the development of meaningful research projects. The lessons to teach library and information skills are to form an integral part of the lessons designed for the students to undertake the research project. Students therefore acquire the different skills in a meaningful context. This then facilitates the internalisation and transfer to other subject areas, as well as to their personal lives. The success of the implementation of this curriculum is contingent upon the collaboration between the library and information professional and the subject teachers in the design and execution of research projects. It is important that partnerships between librarians and teachers be developed to ensure that the library and information skills curriculum is integrated into as many curriculum areas as possible. This requires a shift in paradigm from individual to team teaching, which is the direction in which education is headed. Another factor which is crucial to the successful implementation of this curriculum is well staffed and well stocked library and information centres within the school system. School libraries must be stocked with sufficient resources in a variety of information formats to support individual and group projects in each topic of the different subject curriculum areas. It is important that audio-visual and computer technologies form a substantial part of the school library collection. In addition, school libraries must be adequately staffed with professional and non-professional staff to meet the needs of the varying school populations. They must be properly trained in the collaborative and instruction process to play their part in the successful implementation of this curriculum. This Library and Information Curriculum is an important step forward for the education system of Trinidad and Tobago. It is not the only medium through which students are equipped with the skills to become lifelong learners, but it will enhance the teaching/learning process and by extension the quality of education........ truncated (AU)

Teaching a masters unit using four different modes of delivery [abstract]

Over the last two years, the need for flexibility in delivery of courses to post-graduate students enrolled at the Australian Catholic University became pressing. Factors which contributed to this realization included the relatively small numbers of students enrolled over the five campuses of the University and the fact that these students resided thousands of kilometers apart. At the same time, the University decided to enter the world market for on-line education and targeted particular Faculty courses. The Master of Nursing Leadership, conducted by the Faculty of Health Sciences, was one such course. For lectures who teach units in these programmes, this created new opportunities for creativity in teaching. Over the last two years, I have taught four units in the Master of Nursing programme. One unit (Leadership in Nursing Practice) has been taught in four different modes: face to face, video conference, telephone conference and on-line. This has required a high degree of innovation with a number of different strategies being employed for each of the modes. The strategies employed depended on their suitability for the particular mode. These included the development of communication, through the sending of overheads via e-mail, and a telephone protcol. Students also learnt incidental skills such as how to manage a telephone and a video conference, as well as managing the technology. (AU)

A new visual tool and technique for nutrition education in the Caribbean

This paper presents a technique and tool for use in the collection of dietary information and for nutrition education among a wide range of clients, including those with low literacy, children, and persons with impaired hearing. The tool is a set of two-dimensional food models that are mounted on cardboard or heavy paper and then laminated. This paper descibes their use for the collection of food frequency data, data on food beliefs and attitudes, and meal planning especially among the Caribbean population. The technique is also useful to assess the effect of nutrition education when used in a pre-test/post-test protocol. The tool and technique are inexpensive and can be used repeatedly.(AU)

The use of the computer in abstracting surgical literature for small-group discussions at the postgraduate level - abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the potential value of a personal computer as an aid to discussion in postgraduate seminars, small group teaching, and patient management. Articles from the journals to which the author personally subscribes -Ann. Roy. Col. Surg., Surg. Gyn. & Obstet., Surgery, The Lancet and the West Ind. Med. J. - have been personally abstracted from 1980 to 1986. The data were recorded on diskettes on an IBM Personal Computer at home. The information can be used on any compatible terminal, by the Author, or any general surgeon, resident, house officer, or undergraduate student. Additional material can be added in a department by any member of staff who could recall it at any time, if suitable equipment is available, The information is entirely personalised and contains only that which the author considers pertinent at the time of input. The use of audio-visual aids in the dissemination of medical information is becoming increasingly important. Management of information using the computer is becoming a requirement in teaching and learning at all levels. The plans for the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Mount Hope entail a liberal use of audio-visual aids. The tecniques that will be displayed in this poster will clearly demonstrate its great advantage (AU)

A study of the status of health and family life education in the primary, all age, junior secondary and secondary schools in Montserrat

The results suggest that there is a health and family life education programme in the schools which is receiving support from the Government. The curriculum that was developed for teaching health and family life education is still in the pre-testing stage. The findings also showed that there is no designated person with responsibility for the organisation, coordination, implementation and evaluation of the health and family education programme. The Government however recognises the need for having a fully implemented programme and is taking steps to provide such personnel with responsibility for the programme. The attitudes of the teachers and principals are quite favourable towards the programme and towards teaching the subject, but there is need for improving the preparation given to the teachers for teaching the subject and more material resources need to be provided for them to teach the subject. The results also showed that there is no health and family life education programme in the secondary school. Suggestions were made which might help in developing, reinforcing and modifying the programme (AU)