P6.023 Cross - Border HIV & AIDS Intervention Programme in Seven East African Countries (2008 – 2012)

Abstract

Background: The IGAD Regional HIV & AIDS Partnership Program reflects the common objective of NACs of IGAD States and partners to work in a mutually supportive way to address the sub-regional CBMPs aspects of the HIV/AIDS challenge. The Member countries are Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. The objective of this study was to show the progress made from 2008 until 2012. Methodology The project was conducted in all IGAD States. The implementation at hot spots started since 2009 up to end of 2012. Joint Review Meetings conducted quarterly during the implementation phases. Result: A total of 38 sites supported by the project, of which 9 refugee camps and 29 hot spots. All sites have been enrolled following baseline assessment. Currently there are 69VCT, 63STI, 35PMTCT, and 29ART sites with community HIV/AIDS programmes. HIV tested clients reached to 292,253. A total of 1913 pregnant women found to have HIV; of these 89.6% of them have been received ARVD prophylaxis. The numbers of STI patients treated were 49133. PLHIV on chronic care reached at 15,649; while PLHIV on currently ART were 8429 and the number of patients enrolled in HBC, 408. Since the onset of the programme, a total of 2868 HCPs, 2924 peer educators, 856 youth and 6945 PLHIV, CSWs and community members have been trained. A cumulative of 6,081320 male and 98553 female condoms distributed across all IRAPP supported sites. A total of 35 PLHIV associations established in IRAPP supported sites. Conclusion: The pilot project introduced in the 7 IGAD Member States showed a good forum for continuum HIV prevention, care, treatment and support programmes for the CBMPs. The experience of this pilot project will be replicated in the remaining hot spots in order to expand ARVDs to the most unreachable populations.