Health Business

How long has the college been in operation?
Since 1999. It was started in response to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and the lack of structured training available at the time.

Does your work take you outside the UK?
Yes, right from the outset we intended to operate internationally. The main countries affected by HIV/AIDS tend to be those in the developing world, in particular sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to reach those countries and cultures that might not have access to the type of education, information and healthcare that we have in the UK.
    
If you are one of the world’s poor, existing on less than a dollar per day, then you will struggle to feed yourself, let alone buy condoms. Or perhaps you think HIV is caused by witchcraft or that it can be cured by having sex with a virgin; there are so many misconceptions about this disease. So the one thing we can provide is education.
    
We train the trainers so they can go out and teach people about prevention. Hopefully, by a process of structured training and accurate information by word of mouth, people start to understand how to protect themselves.
    
We are also getting more involved with governments around the world. People often do not realise that HIV/AIDS affects the most productive members of society, in other words, those who are sexually active.
    
In some countries, up to 30 per cent of the population is infected. And vast majority are working age adults meaning that when they die, they leave behind orphans and old people. The consequence is that there is no one left behind to do the work; whether it is local food production or large scale industry linked to economic development and growth. This has a massive impact on the social and economic development of countries which are often already struggling with poverty. Sometimes it can be so bad that they actually see a reversal in growth. This then leaves less money to invest in healthcare and prevention and so a vicious cycle is created. We provide advice on creating and implementing strategies that can halt this trend.

Can you give us a rundown of the range of courses that you offer?
At the moment our most popular course is Advanced Diploma in HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention. This attracts a lot of overseas students and we deliver it either full-time or as a distance learning. Also popular is the MSc in HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health Strategy. This is a full-time course and is appealing because it is very niche. We get a lot of doctors and healthcare professionals on this programme because it is challenging and suits those who want to work at management level.  
    
The most exciting event that is coming up is our conference in August, entitled Developing, Managing and Sustaining HIV/AIDS Programmes & Projects. Continuing our tradition of identifying niche areas, we have put together a conference which handles the fundamental concepts and tools needed to effectively manage HIV/AIDS programmes and projects. Too often, hard-won funding is wasted because those in charge of managing it do not have the appropriate skills and training. This conference is unique – everyone else is concentrating on HIV prevention. That said, we haven’t forgotten about prevention because you need to use your resources effectively if you want to reach the right people. So we will train people to be even more productive at getting the prevention message to those who really need it.

More and more people are adding to their experience by distance learning courses. Is this a growth area for you?
Absolutely. People like the flexibility of learning at their own pace and in their own home. The courses are still rigorously quality assured, so students gain genuine qualifications. And of course, improvements in technology means that e-learning reaches whole new audiences. We are also scaling up distance learning so students can have field orientation at various locations.

Do you offer a consultancy service or tailor-made courses to the NHS and Private Trusts?
Not as such, but we are currently talking to several major clients to develop bespoke training. One application concerns training nurses and other front line staff as part of that organisation’s drive to continually develop staff.
    
Another aligns well with our summer conference because it is a project to manage a HIV programme more effectively and make the best use of limited resources. In addition, we offer bespoke training on a regular basis to charities and NGOs here and abroad.

What tends to happen is that individuals, many of which are from the NHS, enrol as private individuals and study as part of their own development. We also have a particular interest in training provision for minority ethnic groups, many of whom come from countries where HIV is rife and who want, when they return home, to educate others about prevention strategies.
 
What makes your course offering stand out from the competition?
Well, our track record is one thing; we have been providing specialised training for nearly ten years.
    
We are providing effective skills to a variety of different students from all over the world at senior management level, in charities, civil society organisations and government ministries. At the same time, we train in the simplest and most accessible way with ordinary people in developing countries. It is also important to remember that when you talk about HIV/AIDS, it is not just another ‘academic’ subject. It is capacity-building, it is reinforcement of knowledge, it is strengthening organisations to contribute to the overall global reduction of HIV.
    
When we train people on HIV prevention and they use their new skills and knowledge, they can make a massive difference to people’s lives. They might not be trained medically, but they can actually save lives.
    
So in terms of what makes us different, it’s easy; we have passionate staff who want to make a difference. And if you enrol on one of our programmes, that passion will infect you too.

Margaret Nyuydzewira is Principal of the College of Venereal Disease Prevention, London. She has extensive experience of working in HIV prevention/AIDS management within projects and programmes both in the UK and in Cameroon, in particular in areas of community health, public health and health services management.

For more information
Tel: 020 7791 7909 Fax: 020 7791 0848
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Web: www.cvdp.co.uk