women's history month
Fulbright Reflections Series
Anne Palaia: HIV/AIDS
March 14, 2007
Greetings from the Office of Public Affairs at the American Embassy Dar es Salaam!
We are pleased to invite you to a presentation in the Fulbright Reflections Series on “Community-Based Interventions for HIV” by Fulbrighter Anne Palaia on Monday, March 19 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam.
Community-based interventions provide a cost-effective and participatory approach to public health issues and have particular utility for HIV prevention in resource-poor settings where lower costs and intervention sustainability are often priorities. Such interventions solicit the involvement of community members to disseminate information and resources in order to promote behavior change and improve overall community health. Community-based interventions for HIV are currently underway in Tanzania and throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In the rural district of Kisarawe, Project AFIKI, aims to reduce the transmission of HIV by engaging community members in counseling and testing. Like many community-based interventions, the success and sustainability of Project AFIKI relies heavily on the effort and support of unpaid volunteers from Kisarawe.
The research to be presented occurred in the context of Project AFIKI and sought to understand the sources of motivation and effort among the community-based outreach volunteers (CBOVs) working with Project AFIKI. Furthermore, the study investigated the underlying expectations held by volunteers which may have attracted individuals to the position, as well as the unmet needs which may have resulted in diminished effort or drop-out.
Anne Palaia, the student investigator for this project, is a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, in the Department of International Health. Ms. Palaia currently holds a Bachelor’s degree in Writing and Psychology from Loyola College, and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. With the support of a Fulbright Award granted by the U.S. State Department, Dr. Michael Sweat of Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Jessi Mbwambo, of Muhimbili University of Health Sciences, Anne has undertaken 12 months of research and cultural exchange in Tanzania.
To confirm your attendance, please register by emailing paodar@state.gov with your name or names of people in your office that will be attending the presentation. As we have several events, please be sure to mention the name of this one in your response. Please arrive 15 minutes early to go through security and note that large bags, briefcases, cigarette lighters and electronic items such as cell phones, cameras, and car alarm key rings are among items prohibited at the Embassy.
With best wishes,
Fulbright Program Tanzania
Fellowship Programs: http://tanzania.usembassy.gov/educational_exchange.html
