News

James Moore, MPH '03 and a Fellow in the Newly Established ASPH/CDC International Global AIDS Fellowship Program, Begins Work in Guyana

James Moore, an MPH '03 in the Division of Global Health, is one of 10 fellows selected to participate in the newly established Association of Schools of Public Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) International Global AIDS Fellowship Program.

The program is part of CDC's Global AIDS Program (GAP), and is designed to train future public health professionals to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. GAP is part of President Bush's 5-year initiative to channel $15 billion into HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in 12 African countries, Guyana and Haiti. The President's plan aims to treat 2 million of the estimated 40 million HIV-infected people worldwide and prevent 7 million new infections over the next five years. Partnering with local communities, national governments, other U.S. agencies, and select multi- and bi-lateral organizations, GAP seeks to prevent HIV infections, improve care and treatment, and create sustainable surveillance and monitoring capacity to address HIV/AIDS in those countries that are most afflicted by the disease. Global AIDS Fellows will work on the design, coordination, implementation and evaluation of CDC's in-country HIV/AIDS programs.

Moore began work in CDC's GAP office in Georgetown, Guyana in early March. He is assisting the CDC chief of operations scale up Guyana's AIDS prevention and treatment efforts. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that as of 2003, 11,000 Guyanese adults and children were living with HIV/AIDS. According to GAP, HIV prevalence among Guyana's adult population is estimated to be between 3.5% and 5.5%. Fewer than 20% of those infected are aware of their HIV status, and the majority are between the ages of 20 and 34. Currently, AIDS is Guyana's second leading cause of death overall and the leading cause of death for those aged 25 to 44.

Of his work, Moore says “I am excited about the opportunity and am honored to represent Yale in this effort. More than anything, I believe that my selection is a reflection of the quality of my training and mentorship at Yale, and so I hope to represent… [my mentors'] dedication and efforts well in this important work.”

–Story by Christy Gordon