Northern Illinois University/Université de Mbuji Mayi
Country:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Award Date:
2004
Award Amount:
$100,000.00
Cost Share:
$62,000.00
Other Partners:
The partners collaborated to bolster infection control and reduce iatrogenic HIV transmission (i.e., induced inadvertently by medical treatment) by addressing research needs and human capacity development at the Université de Mbuji Mayi’s School of Medicine. The overall goal of the partnership was to decrease HIV infection through unsafe medical practices in two health zones (HZs) of the Eastern Kasai province that are among those with seriously inadequate health care. The collaboration established baseline measures of attitudes, knowledge, and skills in infection control among health care professionals in four HZs. The partners provided training in infection control and quality improvement techniques and established a core group of trainers/facilitators in the province. By developing and implementing an infection control continuing education program and forming and deploying “quality improvement teams” the partners were able to reduce HIV infection.