Pacific Magazine Profiles Oceania Society For Sexual Health

Pacific Magazine recently profiled the Oceania Society for Sexual Health and HIVMedicine, which was launched in March 2007 and is "increasinglyrecognized" among countries in the region as a professional organizationrepresenting health care workers. The society has 65 members -- including anumber of doctors, nurses, counselors, scientists and lab technicians -- from10 Pacific Island countries and territories, PacificMagazine reports. OSSHHM has said that it soon will employ a full-timeexecutive officer based in Suva, Fiji.

OSSHHM President Tenneth Dalipanda said one of the most important objectives ofthe society is for "professional health care workers in the region to beempowered through increased knowledge and hence to be able to provide bettercare for their patients." The society also seeks to give Pacific Islandhealth care workers a voice at regional and international levels, he said."Until now, they have seldom been heard as advocates and advice providersat such a level, yet they should be able to play a real role in the dialoguesthat take place around issues relating to sexual health care and HIVmedicine," Dalipanda said.

OSSHHM in July 2007 published a report, titled "Recommendations for HIVMedicine and Sexual Health Care in Pacific Small Island Countries andTerritories." An updated edition is due out early in 2008, PacificMagazine reports (Pacific Magazine, 1/14).

Reprintedwith permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives, and sign upfor email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Reportis published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. KaiserFamily Foundation.