SEARCH coordinates didactic and hands-on HIV/AIDS training to health care personnel from the South and South East Asia Regions. 

• Intensive 4-week advanced HIV/AIDS Training Course for physicians who are caring for adults and children with HIV

The goals of the training course are to:

• Provide intensive training in HIV/AIDS
• Provide didactic training on HIV, ARV and opportunistic infection
• Provide hands on training in HIV/AIDS management
• Enhance the clinical skills to help patients who are infected with HIV/AIDS
• Discuss specific issues related to providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS care
• Review the latest HIV/AIDS diagnostic and treatment approaches in South and  South East Asia.

To accomplish these goals, the course features expert speakers from various well-known institutions, universities as well as international organizations on a range of HIV/AIDS topics.  The method of instruction includes a combination of lectures, case discussions, clinical experiences and field trips. 

The first training course was conducted for 6 physicians from India and Indonesia during January 8th to February 9th, 2007.  The following session was held during January 7th to February 1st, 2008 for 4 physicians from Vietnam.

The third session, SEARCH, in collaboration with Lala Ram Sarup (LRS) Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, provided SEARCH regional HIV/AIDS Training to Indian physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians and peer educators. The program is designed for 2-week didactic sessions in India on July 28th to August 10th, 2008 and 2-week site visits in Bangkok on August 11th to 22nd , 2008.

An annual 4-week training course is planned. Next training course will be in 2009.