On July 3-8, GCIV hosted 11 distinguished guests from Africa and Europe, all involved in public health and infectious disease prevention and research. The delegates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and France were interested in the role of institutions of higher education in combating infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, etc. They also wanted to learn about programs run by women and religious groups that offer victims of infectious diseases assistance and encouragement. While in Atlanta, they experienced true American patriotism at several Fourth of July events, including an Independence Day Party offered by

Their visit fulfilled their professional requests, as well. First, they visited the Emory University School of Medicine, where they met with staff in the Division of Infectious Diseases. They also had the opportunity to learn about the Emory AIDS International Training and Research Program. Here they discussed the research of infectious diseases at American universities, and learned about Emory Public Health Programs in place to assist developing countries with their infectious disease problems. Next, they attended meetings at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). They had the chance to meet with representatives of the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, the National Center for Infectious Diseases, and the Office of Global Health. Here they learned about CDC Programs in Africa, and discussed work done by the CDC in prevention, treatment, and research of infectious diseases. Later the visited the Georgia Division of Public Health, where they had the chance to chat about state-level research programs, tour the HIV and TB Labs. At the Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center they learned about higher education institutions collaborating with communities to promote HIV and AIDS prevention programs. And finally, at the Southeast AIDS Training and Education Center - Center for Applied Research and Evaluation Studies, they were able to discuss feasible methods for university and government collaboration.

Their program became less technical when they visited local nonprofit organizations who work to provide services to those affected by these diseases. At the Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network, they learned about the Common Ground Program, one of many holistic programs that work to treat mind, body, and soul of HIV/AIDS victims. Then they met with staff at Anํz, Inc., to learn about the Reaching out to Sisters with AIDS (ROSHA) and HIV Prevention for Children "We Want to Know" Programs. They had the chance to learn about these prevention and treatment programs run by women for women.

The visitors returned home with a wealth of knowledge, in hopes some of it will assist them in the fight against the range of infectious diseases which affect their countries. GCIV was honored to host such a talented and important group of public health officials.