The HIV/AIDS epidemic in China is expanding both geographically and with respect to the sub-populations that are affected.  China's Ministry of health and UNAIDS estimate that by December 2005 China had 650,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (of whom 75,000 had full blown AIDS).  Without any effective public health response, China's HIV/AIDS epidemic will worsen significantly, as it has elsewhere in Asia.  Currently, it is estimated that HIV prevention programs are reaching a small proportion of those most vulnerable.  Global experience makes it clear that a key constraint to scaling HIV programs and services is the lack of technical and program implementation capacity.

 The collaborative project between University of Manitoba and Sichuan University was supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in 2007.  This project will promote the establishment of the West China School of Public Health (WCSPH) at Sichuan University as a Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS education and training in West China.  First, the project will prepare faculty in WCSPH to develop and deliver comprehensive, state of the art educational curricula focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, surveillance and control.  Second, the project will enhance the relationship between the WCSPH and the governments Center for Disease Control (CDC) at the district/county, city and provincial levels.  The overall benefit will be to build the capacity of WCSPH to assume a leadership role within the wider public health community in responding to the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic in West China.

INDIA
The Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (http://www.khpt.org/)

The Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) in Bangalore, India is a trust created, in part, to support activities and projects that will lead to the enhanced health and well-being of individuals and communities in India, and particularly the State of Karnataka.  In about 2003, the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society and the University of Manitoba determined it was in their mutual interest to cause KHPT to be created as a cooperative effort.  The University and KHPT have worked together with regard to a number of public health projects.

KHPT envisions empowered individuals and communities in Karnataka and India, working collectively to improve health, reduce the incidence and burden of HIV and AIDS, and assert their rights and dignity.

KHPT's mission is to:

• Reduce the incidence and burden of HIV and AIDS through the delivery of evidence-based, results-oriented, comprehensive, sustainable and scaled HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support, programmes and services, built in partnership with the communities which KHPT serves.
• Strengthen the capacity of partners, inclding community-based, governmental and non-governmental organizations, to plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support programmes.
• Develop as a learning organization, continually improving knowledge and approaches through reflection, research and engagement with peers in India and globally.

St. John's Medical College (http://stjohns.in/medicalcollege/)

St. John's Medical College (SJMC) is one of the premier medical education and service institutions in India.  The University of Manitoba has had a formal collaborative working relationship with the SJMC for almost 10 yeas.  Much of the collaboratie relationship is based on joint research, training and service initiatives in south India.  Members of the University of Manitoba are jointly appointed with our team in India, and one faculty member with a cross appointement at the University of Manitoba.  The University of Manitoba's relationship with SJMC includes a large joint research and training program in areas of HIV/AIDS, STI's, and maternal and neonatal health.

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (http://rguhs.ac.in/)

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) was established in 1996.  The RGUHS motto is "Right for Rightful Health Sciences Education" through upgrading of standards of teaching and research and dissemination of knowledge in all branches of health sciences.  The RGUHS has a geographical jurisdiction for the whole state of Karnataka with a population of approximately 55 million.  RGUHS has 550 affiliated colleges in its coverage area, and over 5000 students in various institutions.  As well, RGUHS conducts fellowship programmes, doctorate and post-doctorate programs in various health institutions in the state of Karnataka.

Through this partnership, work will be undertaken for the development of research activities, as well as development of innovations to counter the threat of infectious disease.  This is achieved through exchange programmes, collaborative research and the development of new facilities and laboratories.

Public Health Foundation of India (http://www.phfi.org)

The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) is a response to redress the limited institutional capacity in India for strengthening training, research and policy development in the area of pulic health. It is a public, private partnership that was collaboratively evolved through consultations with multiple constituencies including Indian and international academia, state and central governments in India, ulti and bilateral agencies and civil society groups in India.

The overhall collaboration is to support PHFI's mission to build the public health capacity in India, with specific objectives of:

• Enhancing opportunities for applied training in public health in India.
• Enhancing public health research capacity in India.
• Fostering India's role as a leader in global public health.

KENYA
University of Nairobi (http://www.uonbi.ac.ke)

The University of Manitoba has had a close working relationship with the University of Nairobi for over three decades.  This has included a wide-ranging program of collaborative research and program development.  In addition, the University of Manitoba has collaborated with the University of Nairobi to establish advanced laboratory infrastructure in Nairobi, supported by funding from the Government of Canada.

NIGERIA
The State of Benue, Nigeria

Benue is a state of 4.6 million people, primarily rural and agricultural.  Nigeria now records 370,000 new HIV infections annually.  The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) reports Benue has an infection rate over 8%, which indicates it has the highest prevalence of HIV among the 36 states in Nigeria.  The State of Benue has resources allocated to this purpose, but needs assistance.  This was an excellent fit with the mandate and capabilities of the Centre with an opportunity to expand the University of Manitoba's research and services activities into West Africa.