South African Cochrane Centre

HIV/AIDS Mentoring Programme
The Cochrane HIV/AIDS Group, based at the University of California in San Francisco, and the South African Cochrane Centre (SACC) have developed a formal mentoring programme for African authors working on HIV-related reviews.

The Cochrane HIV/AIDS Group recognised that many of their published reviews to date had a treatment focus of little relevance to developing countries, where anti-retroviral treatment is often not available. To remedy this problem, the HIV/AIDS Mentoring Programme aims to increase capacity within Africa to produce reviews relevant to developing countries. Authors working on HIV-related reviews are linked with a more experienced author who provides guidance and methods expertise throughout the review process.

Reviews currently being conducted within the Mentoring Programme include:

• Medicinal cannabis for reducing morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected adults (Elizabeth Lutge, South Africa)
• Boosted protease-inhibitor (PI) regimens vs non-boosted PI regimens for reducing morbidity and mortality in people with HIV/AIDS (Karen Cohen, Tamara Kredo and Donavon Hiss, South Africa)
• School-based interventions to postpone sexual intercourse and increase condom use for HIV prevention among adolescents (Catherine Mathews, Amanda Mason Jones and Ashraf Kagee, South Africa)
• Antiviral therapy for genital herpes simplex in people with HIV/AIDS  (Phillip Oshun, Nigeria)
• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of AIDS-related Mycobacterium avium complex (Mubashir Uthman, Nigeria)
• Low-dose stavudine versus high-dose stavudine for treating people with HIV (Bulie Magula, South Africa)
• Female condom for preventing HIV (Ruth Bame, Cameroon)
• Vaccines for prevention of HIV infection (Ani Etokidem, Nigeria)
• Antidepressants to treat depression in people with HIV/AIDS (Ian Lewis, South Africa)
• Treatment for herpes zoster ophthalmicus in people with HIV infection (Bolutife Olusanya, Nigeria)
• Boosted protease inhibitor 'monotherapy' for treating HIV/AIDS (Walter Jaoko, Kenya)
• Economic interventions for prevention of HIV risk and HIV infection (Ifeanyi Ezedunikwe, Nigeria)
• Influenza vaccine for people with HIV/AIDS (Hilary Enuh, Nigeria)
• Hepatitis B vaccination for reducing morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV infection (Patrick Okwen, Cameroon)
• Interleukin-2 as an adjunct to antiretroviral therapy for reducing morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV infection (Jennifer Onwumeh, South Africa)

Four Cochrane HIV/AIDS Review Schools funded by the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Review Group have been held in Cape Town. A total of 42 Cochrane authors have attended the Review Schools. The training is PC-based to allow authors the opportunity to perform tasks on their own. The programme covers specific topics each day but is also flexible to allow authors to make requests. The schools specifically allocate time for authors to not only meet face-to-face but also have time to discuss and work on their reviews.

• Cape Town HIV/AIDS Review Progress School photographs (May 2012)
• Cape Town HIV/AIDS Review Update/Completion School photographs (March 2010)
• Cape Town HIV/AIDS Review Completion School photographs (February 2008)
• Cape Town HIV/AIDS Review Progress School photographs (January 2005)
• Cape Town HIV/AIDS Review Progress School photographs (November 2003)

You are invited to participate as:

• a mentor
• or an author in the programme

For more information contact Joy Oliver by e-mail joy.oliver@mrc.ac.za