Peru

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Ministry of Health National HIV and TB strategy offices, Peru

In Peru, the HIV/AIDS epidemic revolves around core groups of men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW). The HIV-1 seroprevalence in Lima is approximately 20% in MSM and between 1 and 5% in FSW. This contrasts with rates in the general population of 0.5% among pregnant women. The dynamics of the HIV epidemic in Peru highlight the importance of targeting core groups who are often marginalized and not readily accessible using standard public health measures with interventions to promote HIV testing and prevent transmission. Prostitution in Peru, although not legal, is permitted, and requires periodic STD examination at a Public Health Clinic. Both FSW and MSM are eligible to receive health care at these clinics. With the arrival of the Global Fund in Peru, all HIV-infected people are eligible to receive HAART therapy without charge. University of Washington collaborative research efforts in Peru target FSW and MSM populations and design and conduct interventions aimed at preventing and treating HIV and STD infections in core groups as well as in adolescents and in the general population. Current funded projects include epidemiology and neurologic manifestations of retroviral (HIV, HTLV-1 and 2) infections in high-risk populations (FSW, MSM) and indigenous groups, HPV acquisition in FSW, operational research regarding HIV and TB coinfections, tropical infections of the central nervous system, and cerebrovascular disease.

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia & A.B. PRISMA, Peru

The collaboration between the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) and A.B. PRISMA, a Peruvian non- governmental organization (NGO) has provided a rich environment for research and training for more than 20 years. AB PRISMA – is an NGO which has been the base for much of the epidemiologic studies we have done over the years. This NGO is the largest Peruvian health and microcredit non profit in the country. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia – is the premier Science University in Peru and houses the Infectious Disease Laboratory in the Dept of Microbiology.

Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru

This clinical fellows program will involve a collaboration between the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. The Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Lima, Perú, is recognized as one of the top centers in the world for tropical medicine. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Medical School is recognized as one of the outstanding medical schools in Latin America. Since its founding in 1968 the Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt" (IMT) has risen to international stature in service, research and training in infectious diseases and tropical medicine. IMT is located within the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, which provides 5,000 HIV related outpatient visits per year, diagnoses 40 new HIV cases per month, and is responsible for 15% of the total Peruvian patient population who receive HAART within the National antiretroviral Program in Peru.