A challenge specific to Kenya: link between communities and structures delivering ART services

[Guest guest]

Results of a ground breaking study on the implication of Kenyan community

based organizations in the delivery of HIV care services are available at

http://www.sidaction.org/pro/international/accescommun/index_html

A challenge specific to Kenya is to reinforce the link between prevention,

VCT, care and treatment. The link between communities and health

infrastructures delivering ART services is poor and health professionals

are overwhelmed with responsibilities that could be shared, to the benefit

of both the clients and the services. In Kenya, particularly, support

groups in VCT centers and organizations delivering home-based care

services in diverse areas could and should play a prominent role in the

establishment of such a continuum.

1.CBOs are in the best position to fight stigma at the entry point of the

health system through outreach campaigns, 2.they can provide more than

testing in VCT centers and support those who test positive with coping

strategies, including reparation for treatment, 3.they could encourage

sites to increase uptake through sharing responsibilities in care,

support, and follow up, and increase the quality of care provided and the

compliance of patients through treatment literacy, psychosocial support,

nutrition skills and other needed services.

A number of CBOs are already delivering support and home-based care on a

large scale despite the fact that their access to treatment is limited.

The potential in this sector should be used as a way to expand the public

health system infrastructure. The Government of Kenya, together with WHO,

UNAIDS, the Global Fund and other important stakeholders need to develop a

budget for treatment access that includes funding for the NGOs and CBOs

that will prepare communities for treatment and bring them to the patients

where the patients need them.

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SIDACTION, a France- based non-governmental organization is working in

collaboration with the HIV Department in WHO and together with the UNAIDS

Secretariat to reinforce the work of community-based organizations in

scaling up HIV treatment and care.

The first phase of this joint program consisted in mapping and documenting

the work of CBOs engaged in care and treatment services delivery

throughout Africa. The results are published as a UNAIDS/WHO/SIDACTION

joint publication in the Best Practice collection. The research confirmed

that community responses to care and treatment should be recognized; The

way forward was to ensure that a dynamic be launched at the country level

in three countries with high potential for involving community-based

organizations in the effort to scale up ARV: Nigeria, Kenya and Burkina

Faso.

Marie de Cenival

Programmes Internationaux

SIDACTION

228, rue du Faubourg Saint-

75010 PARIS - FRANCE

Tel : +33 (0)1 53 26 45 32

Fax : +33 (0)1 53 26 45 75

E-MAIL : m.decenival@...