Infectious Disease Program

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis including HIV are increasing in Central Asia. Prevention is key and treatment limited with diminished funds. Under the old system of STI specialists, costs are high, and patients are stigmatized. Integration of STI services into the developing Family Group Practices is being studied in Kyrgyzstan based on a successful pilot program in Kazakstan 1999-2000. That pilot demonstrated that involvement of family physicians in the management of STI's resulted in reduced costs and improved care for patients with urethral discharge, genital ulcer and vaginal discharge. The Kyrgyz pilot study will asses issues of access of care, cost-effectiveness, patient and provider satisfaction.

With increasing evidence that HIV is a largely unseen smoldering epidemic out of control in Central Asia , STLI is part of an international planning group with USAID funding, now addressing the area-wide problem throughout Central Asia.

Tuberculosis including drug resistant disease is increasing in Central Asia. National treatment programs following the WHO model utilize primary health care providers (PHC) in detection, and treatment completion (out of hospital). STLI along with Project Hope, Abt/USAID is developing training modules for the family medicine training centers beginning in September 2001. A model for working with TB specialists is being developed.

Evidence based medicine/clinical guidelines development is designed to improve the quality of health care by revising clinical guidelines, the old "prekazies" or rules developed years ago under the Soviet system. Initially targeted are five common problems in family medicine. Training programs for three Central Asian countries began in April 2001, teaching physicians "the best evidence" available internationally chiefly on the internet. These trainees can serve as trainers for others as the process is expanded in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan and Uzbekistan.

Family Medicine | Dental | Infectious Disease | Midwifery | Nursing Training | Education | Community Development | Emergency Medicine

January 29, 2008