Sir Peter Barter visits IMR | Minister launches broadband | PNGIMR delegation visit NARI | Directors directions | EPO project update | Update on PCV project | IMR Goroka get training on DMSys | Staff attend workshop in Malasia | New Staff | Students complete honours | This quater in picture | Gone for studies | Five staff graduate from DWU | Social Research Cadetship program | Malawi HIV/AIDS delegation visit Goroka | Message of Hib vaccie to PNG | Don Lewis revisits PNGIMR | Information for health workers for Hib vaccine | Dual visit Professor M J Cardosa's lab | Michael Alpers library news | IMR women celebrate IWD

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Social Research Cadetship Program

The Strengthening HIV Social Research Capacity in PNG Program, which commenced late last year (2006) is a newly introduced program to the PNGIMR’s Operational Research Unit (ORU).

The Social Research Cadets with their team leader Dr Angela Kelly and Sir Peter Barter, the Malawi delegation and the PNG HIV/AIDS team.

The two year program is in partnership with the National Centre for HIV Social Research (NCHSR) at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Ten Papua New Guinean research cadets of which nine are females and one male are currently undergoing the training program, at the PNGIMR head quarters in Goroka.

It is hoped that after the program the ten cadets would become researchers for consultants, NGOs and even the government.

According to the team leader Dr Angela Kelly, the Cadets are being trained in qualitative and quantitative research methods with extensive field experience.

“After the training program, the cadets are expected to be in positions as advisors or researches in social research on HIV/AIDS,” said Ms Kelly.

Ms Kelly said that it was good to see that the PNGIMR took the lead to introduce this program.

It shows that PNGIMR is not only producing research but also mentoring upcoming researchers in the field of HIV and AIDS.

The ten cadets come from different provinces of Papua New Guinea and have different professional backgrounds.

Barbara Kepa, Lawrencia Pirpir and Brenda Peter have Bachelor’s in Communication Arts (Journalism) from the Divine Word University.

Barbara comes from Tari, Southern Highands Province; Lawrencia comes from the Baining’s in East New Britain Province and Brenda hails from Hagen, Western Highlands Province.

Rebecca Emori, Kritoe Kelebe, Frances Akuani and Somu Nosi have Bachelors in Papua New Guinea Studies also from the Divine Word University.

Rebecca comes from the Trobriands Islands, Milne Bay Province, Kritoe who is the only male doing the cadetship training program comes from the Star Mountains of Western Province, Frances comes from Bogia, Madang Province and Somu, hails from Okapa, Eastern Highlands Province.

Martha Kupul is a Geologist by profession and Agnes Mek is a nursing officer who also has a bachelor in Business Management.

They both come from Banz, Western Highlands Province.

And lastly, Lucy Walizopa comes from Kama, Eastern Highlands Province.

All cadets were working in their respective fields before they got recruited for the HIV/AIDS cadetship program.