International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) 10551 views

ICAP at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health supports programs and research that address HIV/AIDS and related conditions and works to strengthen health systems. ICAP currently supports HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs in 13 African countries including: Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania. ICAP supports several hundred project sites, which provide HIV prevention, care and treatment to hundreds of thousands of individuals.

Launched in 2004 as the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs, ICAP is led by its Director Wafaa El-Sadr. With a special emphasis on family-focused care, use of multidisciplinary teams, attention to the multitude of needs of individuals at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS, ICAP programs include HIV counseling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, comprehensive HIV care, antiretroviral therapy, and management for related conditions, such as tuberculosis.

ICAP's goal is to build capacity for the implementation of diverse programs and to support the strengthening of other aspects of health systems, such as the renovation of health facilities, the training and mentoring of health care providers, and building the capacity of program managers and administrators. Such programs include Clinical Mentorship Systems Training and the ICAP Nurse Capacity Initiative. In addition, ICAP supports a Student Opportunities Program for undergraduate and graduate student from all disciplines.

ICAP partners with both public and private organizations, including ministries of health, the World Health Organization, and UNAIDS. Partnerships with non-governmental and community-based organizations, as well as faith-based groups, address care for at-risk populations, including children, and create income-generating projects for people living in affected communities.