Objectives of the programme
Care and Support
- Support provision of pediatric HIV prevention, care and support services
- Support retention of paediatric HIV exposed and infected children
- Support equity of access to health for the disadvantaged children
- Ensure linkage of at least 95% of HIV infected children on treatment
- Improve quality of paediatric HIV treatment service provision
- Improve viral load suppression of paediatric and adolescent patients
- Support the MOH in policy and guidelines development
- We promote routine HIV testing orientation at all points of care
- We have supported HIV case finding among Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC):
- collaborated with Expanded Church Response (ECR) to test OVCs
- collaborated with Footprint Foundation Zambia (FFZ) to test street kids in Lusaka
- In collaboration with LPHO, Chongwe district and Western Province we initiated the “know your child’s HIV status” campaign for all HIV positive mothers on ART
- Outreach HIV testing for children <5years
- Support HIV testing of children during “Child Health Week”
- We promote escorted referrals by Linkage Officers and Treatment Supporters to ensure there is linkage to treatment on the same day
- We support follow up of unlinked children through provision of transport, talk time and mobile phones
- Networking with other facilities to ensure linkage for children taken to facilities of preference outside and within supported facilities through phone calls and physical follow ups
- Increased Paediatric static ART services at Health Posts through onsite mentorship and orientation.
Support retention of pediatric HIV exposed and infected children
- Support defaulter tracing and following up of children late for pharmacy pick ups
- Created WhatsApp social platforms for youths and adolescents for information sharing and interaction.
- We are active members of the national technical working group for development of training materials for adolescents and youths.
- Supported caregiver, paediatric, adolescent, and teen pregnancy support group meetings to provide psychosocial support and improve adherence
- Peer-client pairing for children with high viral loads for enhanced adherence counseling (EAC); phone and physical follow-ups for those not able to come to facility
- Supported implementation of after hours, weekend scholar ART srvices for children and community ART initiation.
- Implemented Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) in order to improve adherence and viral suppression; we are scaling up to high-volume facilities
- Conducted Viral Load testing campaigns to improve coverage
- Support trainings for HCWs and support staff:
- Paediatric ART management and VL management
- Counseling – psychosocial, HIV, disclosure and adherence
- Disclosure and Adherence counseling
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse Management
- Adolescent services - Tisamala, Support Group Formation, Youth Friendly Services, Positive living
- Early Infant Diagnosis
- Clinical mentorship in paediatric HIV management
- Gatekeepers workshops to address issues of paediatric HIV management: ART clinic in-charges, public health nurses, market chairpersons, neighbourhood health committees, traditional healers, police, clergy, teachers)
- We conduct facility data review meetings to ensure quality data, data use and monitor performance.
- We conduct quality improvement projects:
- Viral load suppression
- Index testing
- Caregivers workshops on adherence and disclosure.
- Conducted an E-learning orientation on paediatric ART training package in Lusaka in conjunction with Jhpiego
