Head of CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, is a busy man. Awarded the Humphrey Fellowship, a study sabbatical based in Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, United States (US) some 6 months ago, Dr Mohammed has since been involved in several workshops, has published numerous articles and has presented over a dozen conference papers.

Since the start of his Fellowship, he has also successfully completed some six HIV/AIDS-related courses within the Global Health Department of the Rollins School of Public Health.

Last October, all Fellows attended the Global Leadership Forum in Washington DC as guest of the US Government. At a dinner hosted for the Fellows, the Keynote Speaker was the Secretary of the State, Hilary Clinton.

“One of the greatest highlights was attending a seminar where revered spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and well-known actor, Richard Gere, were present. I couldn’t believe that I actually got to be in the presence of such deeply respected and celebrated icons”, says Dr Mohammed.

This Humphrey Fellowship is administered by Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration with US State Department and is offered to professionals with proven track record in the area of their expertise. Dr Mohammed is one of twelve Fellows, representing a variety of African, South American and Eastern nations.

Established in 1978 by the former US President Jimmy Carter, in honour of the late US Vice-President and Senator Hubert Humphrey, those awarded the fellowship are expected to carry forward Humphrey’s lifelong commitment to international cooperation and public service.

Fellows join the ranks of the global diaspora of distinguished alumni, many of whom subsequently become statesmen, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, Vice Chancellors, internationally honored researchers, scientists and academics. To date, an astounding 40 Fellows are highly-respected Nobel Laureates.

Apart from his academic commitments, Dr Mohammed has also been taken part in numerous charity projects, sporting activities and excursions to places of cultural interest. Dr Mohammed says, “On my return, I intend to plough back some much needed intellectual resources to the programmes and activities of CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit, hopefully bringing a renewed energy and approach to my staff and our clients.” He is due back at CPUT in June/July 2011 in his capacity as head of the Unit.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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More than 1 500 contestants participated in auditions for the Intersexions drama series that was held at CPUT’s Cape Town campus.

The event was hosted by CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit in collaboration with John Hopkins University, DramAide and SABC 1.

The multi-award-winning, 26-part drama series is broadcast on SABC 1 and portrays various contexts where people expose themselves to the risk of HIV infection.

Hopefuls over the age of 18 came from all over the Cape Peninsula to take their shot at fame. Participants were given scripts and had to perform a monologue for the judges.

Those who made it through the first round were given an on-camera audition.

Some participants also got the chance to pose for photographs with their favourite stars from the series.

In collaboration with TB Care, the university’s Mobile Wellness Unit conducted HIV Counseling and Testing for those who wanted to know their HIV status.

Dr Ashraf Mohammed, Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit, says despite the bad weather at the weekend, students and other hopefuls came out in large numbers.

“In fact this has been an awesome and overwhelming success and one of our biggest and best awareness events we ever had to date - despite the bad weather," says Dr Mohammed.

Kgaugelo Madisha, a Peer Educator based in the unit, says the auditions were a huge success.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
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The CPUT campus-wide HIV testing drive has officially kicked off. This campaign, dubbed ‘First Things First’ is a counselling and testing drive commissioned by the Department of Higher Education’s Programme on HIV/ AIDS (HEAIDS).

Its purpose is to encourage students, academics, administration and service staff to get tested in the mobile clinic that will visit all CPUT campuses and service points during the next few weeks.
 
Projects Officer Alex Semba said the campaign was first introduced in mid-2011, with the drive primarily aimed at first-year students.
 
He said this year the focus has been expanded to all members of the CPUT community.
 
Part of the campaign is asking participants to watch a counselling DVD that will be uploaded on all CPUT computers.  Thereafter they will be tested using the finger-prick method and receive post-test counseling from the on-site medical staff.
 
The test will take no more than 20 minutes.
 
For those who may be concerned about their status being exposed, Semba says, “For us, confidentiality is key. The only people who have access to your results are you and your health worker.”
 
“We would like everyone who tested to also sign a pledge to stop discrimination, reduce the stigma of HIV/ AIDS and help to curb further infections by practising safer sex”, says Semba.
 
Head of the Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed has also encouraged the CPUT community to participate in the drive.
 
“Knowing one’s status is very essential, as it allows you to live a healthy responsible life,” says Dr Mohammed.
 
For more information on dates and venues of the testing drive, watch out for updates via Newsflash or contact the Unit directly on (021) 460 4253.
 
By: Thando J. Moiloa
 
The HIV/ AIDS Unit in collaboration with TB Care has scheduled the campaign as follows: Bellville Campus - 27-29 Feb 2012
Granger Bay Campus - 01 March 2012
Cape Town Campus - 5-7 March 2012
Tygerberg Campus - 8 March 2012
Mowbray Campus - 12 & 13 March 2012
Wellington Campus - 14 & 15 Mach 2012
Optical Dispensing - 19 March 2012
Thomas Patullo - 20 March 2012
Groote Schuur - 22 March 2012

Written by CPUT News
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From 7 to 18 September 2009, the staff and Peer Educators of the HIV/AIDS Unit hosted the year’s second Voluntary Counseling and Testing Campus Drive.

For this VCT Drive, a new site was added to the campaign, namely Athlone Western Cape Nursing College. Other sites participating in the VCT drive included Cape Town, Bellville, Mowbray, Granger Bay and Tygerberg Campuses as well as various student residences.

VCT campus drives are done in collaboration with a service provider (in this case Action Against AIDS) who provides the nursing personnel, lay counselors and test kits.

They are funded by the Provincial Department of Health.

The HIV/AIDS Unit collaborated with the Campus Clinic to whom clients who tested positive were referred and the Student Counseling Service which provides interns and standby psychological services for crises situations.

A total 1,306 clients were counseled for the HIV test of which 1302 were tested for HIV (99.8%).

The recent VCT Drive showed a marked increase in the number of staff members who were tested for HIV. This staff increase for the HIV test can be attributed to the HIV/AIDS Unit’s initiative of introducing the workplace Peer Education Programme where the VCT campus drive was marketed by staff Peer Educators.

Dr Ashraf Mohammed, Director of the HIV/AIDS Unit, said: ""The success of this VCT Campus Drive if we would have received an extra bonus if there would have been an increase in male uptake for VCT.”

By Thando J. Moiloa and the HIV AIDS Unit

Photo: A student is tested, after receiving professional counseling, during the VCT campus drive at the Cape Town campus student centre

Written by CPUT News
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Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, was recently awarded a doctorate in Public Health from the University of Cape Town.

Dr Mohammed, who holds degrees in Microbiology and Medical Science, conducted research on the prevention of Tuberculosis (TB) in advanced HIV-infected patients. This study, which was partially funded by the prestigious Diana Princess of Wales HIV Research Foundation, is one of seven studies of its kind to be conducted in the world.

As a result, the findings of this significant study will be used by several international health organisations (WHO/CDC) in order to undertake a meta-analysis study.

The study, which is titled, “The efficiency of intermittent directly observed Isoniazid for preventing tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults with advanced disease,”was undertaken at public hospitals in the Western Cape.

In order to conduct the study, patients were randomly selected from various health facilities in the Western Cape.

“They were then assessed for eligibility for the trial,” said Dr Mohammed.

Those selected for the study were screened for TB and only those that were free from TB were enrolled for the trial and were required to follow a 24 month treatment programme. The treatment programmes were conducted at Tygerberg, Groote Schuur and Somerset Hospitals.

Dr Mohammed said the study took place over several years because patients entered the programme at different times. As a result of the study, Dr Mohammed devised a TB screening instrument.

Through this method, they detected several undiagnosed TB cases (8.5%) in patients who were referred by clinicians as being free from TB. This TB screening instrument for patients with advanced HIV infection in a hospital setting has now been incorporated into the South African National TB Policy Guidelines. Dr Mohammed said he plans to further research in this area.

“I want to extend the study and develop it into a research niche at CPUT,” he said.

Dr Mohammed has already published widely in peer-reviewed journals and also presented his research at several international conferences. Prior to his graduation he had already published two articles in international peer-reviewed journals and is currently drafting a third paper for publication.

He was also awarded the Foggarty Fellowship, which allowed him to complete various aspects of his doctorate at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York.

He was also a recipient of the Guy Elliot Medical Research Fellowship. Dr Mohammed is currently supervising 5 postgraduate students, 2 of which are medical doctors,

Written by CPUT News
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As CPUT celebrates the coming launch of Golden Key, the institution recognises one of its own who has recently achieved membership status.

Dr Ashraf Mohammed, Head of Department for the HIV/AIDS Unit, completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town where he developed his profile in the medical field.

His doctoral thesis focused on the aspects of a tuberculosis (TB) screening test developed, which was subsequently included in the national guideline to HIV-positive patients.

Prior to graduating with his qualification, Dr Mohammed published several papers for peer review and submitted data to global medical bodies such as the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation to be included in their meta-analysis studies.

As a result of these fine academic achievements, he was invited to become a member of the Society earlier this year.

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