A community intervention model for reaching all children

A community intervention model for reaching all children exposed to HIV - experiences & lessons from TAFU Merian Natukwatsa Musinguzi Program Coordinator TAFU

Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda-TAFU Communities taking lead in reaching All Children Merian Natukwatsa Musinguzi Program Coordinator TAFU

Introduction • Considerable progress in addressing paediatric HIV in Uganda However, • 37% of children 0 -14 years exposed to HIV still not reached by ART services • 30% drop out after enrolment into care • Care services are health facility based and not reaching the hard to reach communities • Linkages between health facilities and communities weak

Using community structures to link the communities where these children are born and raised with the health facilities where they can access health services holds the key to addressing these gaps

Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda § Four year program: 2015 -2019 § Phase one-5 districts: Moroto, Napak, Serere, Mubende, & Mityana § Phase two -scale up to an additional 3 districts: Soroti, Mubende, Mityana, Kyenjojo, & Ntungamo

Goal • Reduce the number of new HIV infections among infants Increase the number of HIV positive children on treatment

Objectives § Improve uptake and retention of HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants in PMTCT care § Increase the number of children tested(<15 yrs) § Increase access to and retention in life-long care and treatment for HIV-positive children

Approach

Approach… § Work with community structures to address barriers to accessing services and create linkages to health facilities Emphasis on tracing, referral enrolment and retention of children into care Community based approach complements facility based approaches

Approach § Building capacity of community structures and strengthening their collaboration with health facilities for more effective referral and follow up • Encouraging health facilities to work with community structures in linking and follow up of these children

Focus § Empower families and communities to take, and retain, their HIV positive children into care • Strengthen community structures to be able to trace, refer and follow up with HIV positive children and their families • Improve coordination and paediatric service capacity to find and link HIV positive children to care • Strengthen the capacity of local CSOs

Thank you