final program.qxd - Parallels Plesk Panel

PP 1.30
Community Response to HIV/AIDS:Empowering Comunities in HIV/AIDS
Management
Beatrice Chola (Mrs.)
IUATLD (International Union Against Tuberculosis And Lung Disease) membership No:
CU-0458126, Zambia National AIDS Network, Lusaka, Zambia
Introduction
Bwafwano HBC was established in 1996 as a community response to the increasing
number of HIV cases in the Chipata area of Lusaka. Since inception, Bwafwano has
carried out Preventive, Care and Support and Impact Mitigation Programs. One such
program under the Home Based Care Program is the ART Adherence Support Program
for PLWHAs.
Objective
To empower communities with skills in HIV/AIDS Management.
Method
Bwafwano employs an integrated approach in HIV/AIDS Management. The approach
starts with Community Volunteers who identify chronically ill patients. These are refered to
the centre for HIV Testing and if positive they are enrolled with the HBC Program. It is from
here that they are refered to Government Health Centres for CD4 Count and started on
ART. From the Government Health Centres, patients are refered back to Bwafwano for
ART Adherence Support and monitoring. Currently, out of 2,372 PLWHAs enrolled with the
program, 318 are on ART. Bwafwano has also trained Community Volunteers and Primary
Caregivers as ART Adherence Supporters. Patients are also identified through the VCT
Centre, Community Clinic and the Community Laboratory at Bwafwano.
Results
The results of the program include improved health status of PLWHAs, reduced mortality
rate and patients that were almost on the verge dying now healthy and providing for their
families, reduced stigma including the formation of a support group for PLWHAs.
POSTERS
Conclusion
Empowering communities with skills in HIV/AIDS Management contributes to improved
health condition of PLWHAs through adherence to ART. Communities should themselves
be primary promoters of ART Adherence leading to improved community health.
“ Focusing FIRST on PEOPLE “ 115 w w w . i s h e i d . c o m