The Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice (CEBP) at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERIA), organised a webinar on “Optimising HIV Research and Practice Impact in Resource-Limited Settings”. The event was held online through Zoom and Youtube Live on 7 March 2023, from 9 am to 12.30 pm.

The webinar aimed to improve the effectiveness of HIV-related research and practice in areas with limited resources. It featured three distinguished speakers, all from Yale School of Public Health, who shared their expertise and experience in tackling the HIV epidemic. The speakers were Professor Dr Sten H Vermund, Professor Dr Frederick Altice, and Associate Professor Dr Sheela Shenoi. The event was moderated by Dr Rumana Akhter Saifi, Associate Director of Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERIA).

The first speaker was Professor Dr Sten H Vermund, a paediatrician and infectious disease epidemiologist that focused on diseases of low and middle-income countries, talked about identifying real-life solutions to end the HIV epidemic through implementation science. He highlighted the importance of community involvement, innovative strategies, and technology to achieve sustainable progress.

The second speaker was Professor Dr Frederick Altice, who is a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and shared his expertise in behavioural interventions to improve HIV-related outcomes. His talk, “Facilitating Behavioral Change Through Motivational Interviewing: Potential Impact for Clinical Practitioners” emphasised the potential impact of motivational interviewing in clinical settings.

The third speaker was Associate Professor Dr Sheela Shenoi’s talk focused on community-based service delivery models that can help optimise HIV care. She shared her experience and insights on lessons learned from implementing these models and provided directions for the future. She highlighted the importance of addressing the social determinants of health, engaging community stakeholders, and leveraging partnerships to improve HIV care.

In summary, the webinar was successful and well-participated by local and international participants in various fields including students, researchers, academicians, practitioners, and non-governmental organisations. This talk served as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and discussion among all the participants and provided valuable insights into optimising HIV research and practice impact in resource-limited settings. The speakers’ expertise and experience showcased innovative strategies and community-based solutions to tackle the HIV epidemic effectively.

This write-up was written by Nur Haizrina Anis Md Mokhtar, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.