D:\My Documents\HBC\HCBC Implem - Kenya National AIDS & STI ...

Executive SummaryThis document describes asystematic framework forestablishing and maintaininghome- and community-basedcare (HCBC) in Kenya. Theframework is intended to guidegovernments, national andinternational donor agencies, and civilsociety organizations in developing orexpanding HCBC programmes.Approaches to HCBC are continuallyevolving in response to the changingneeds of patients/clients and theirfamilies. In the beginning, most homebasedcare programmes focused onthe care of the sick and family- The Home-Based Care Logo -The separate elements of the emblemare familiar, but are combined in asignificant way.The red ribbon represents AIDS.And the family is just that – a family,the foundation of our communities, butwith the red AIDS ribbon superimposedto indicate that HIV/AIDS is not anaffliction of individuals only, it affectseveryone. The heart is widelyrecognized as a symbol of love andcaring. The green is also significant.Green is regarded by many as thecolour of hope. Thus the emblemportrays an AIDS-affected familysurrounded by a heart full of hope,caring and community support. That isthe message of home-based care.Executive Summarycaregivers. As the AIDS epidemiccontinued to grow, orphan carebecame a critical concern. And nowwith the availability of highly effectiveanti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), more andmore people are graduating frombeing bedridden to being activemembers of the community on lifelongARV treatment and in need ofcomprehensive care.This poses a major paradigm shiftfrom home-based care (HBC) – thecare of a single sickly family memberat home – to home- and communitybasedcare (HCBC), which is a broadbasedapproach rooted in acommunity’s concern for friends andneighbours in need. The framework isan integral part of the communitystrategy for strengthening health careat level 1 of the Kenya EssentialPackage for Health (KEPH)developed by the Ministry of Health.This document describes theelements of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS care package, the minimumcare package, the national model forHCBC implementation and actions forstrengthening the systems thatsupport the model.Comprehensive Care PackagePeople with HIV and other chronicand terminal illnesses have multipleneeds that can only be addressedthrough comprehensive care. Suchix