Approaches and Results from HIV/AIDS & TB Programs in Thirteen Countries
In the region of the world most affected by HIV/AIDS, sub-Saharan Africa, a pressing shortage of health workers impedes an effective response to the epidemic. Recognizing this critical need, IntraHealth International collaborates with health care leaders, government officials, and communities to support health workers to offer HIV/AIDS counseling, testing, and prevention services as well treatment and care. Led by Karen Blyth, director of HIV/AIDS programs, IntraHealth’s HIV/AIDS work is driven by a commitment to provider-initiated, client-centered care that integrates HIV/AIDS services with other services people need, including comprehensive reproductive health care, nutritional support, and treatment of other diseases such as tuberculosis. In its HIV/AIDS programs, IntraHealth aims to:
Design strategies to rapidly recruit and deploy health workers to deliver HIV/AIDS services and allay the health worker shortage
Support health workers to offer high-quality comprehensive health care services
Ensure people can get HIV counseling and testing services as well as information and tools for HIV prevention
Make antiretroviral therapy (ART) services more widely available, including for hard-to-reach populations
Create support groups for women living with HIV
Prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission by offering primary prevention services for women as well as appropriate prenatal and postnatal care
Stop stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV
Improve workplace safety by protecting health workers from HIV and other blood-borne infections in the workplace.