Establishing Referral and Linkage Networks for Comprehensive HIV Care at the Teachers Service Commission

Abstract

Countries with the highest disease burden have the lowest ART coverage; this may be partially explained by poor testing to care linkages. Referring people living with HIV (PLHIV) into care remains a priority in the HIV chronic care model. The fellow aimed to establish referral and linkage networks for comprehensive HIV Care at the Teachers Service Commission through a participatory process. The stakeholders involved included the TSC senior management in order to seek their buy in, Sub County Medical Office for policy direction, Constituency Aids Control Office, Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations. The outcomes of this project were; sensitized stakeholders, service delivery staff capacity build on the new HIV treatment guidelines, scaling up HTS, availability and initiation of Anti Retro Viral Therapy (ART) where necessary, linkage to other health facilities and availability of relevant M&E tools. As a result of this there was improved referral and linkage networks among the ART clients. The goal of this project was to reduce morbidity and mortality due to HIV/AIDS among the Kenyan population. The project commenced with an initial stakeholders’ sensitization and capacity building of both service delivery staff and People Living with HIV/AIDs (PLWHAs) both at the TSC headquarters and Machakos County. The culmination of all this was establishment of linkage networks to care and treatmentin all HIV testing Services at TSC.This project was implemented from April 2016 to May 2017 at a cost of KES. 497,000.