CCP is carrying out a program for improving the quality of ARV treatment services in Côte d’Ivoire focusing on improving aspects of communication.
How can we increase the demand for ARV services? How can we let the community know about this treatment? How can we ensure good follow-up of ARV clients and keep them on the active roll?
These are the questions that the program for improving the quality of ARV treatment services seeks to answer. CCP is carrying out this program in Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), informed by a study conducted by CCP in 2008. Implemented in six pilot sites in Abengourou, Abidjan and Dimbokro, the program focuses on improving aspects of communication such as: the existence of a reception area and a room for sorting medical files, the existence of a waiting room with IEC materials, the documentation of community activities, the delivery of information to the client both before starting on ARVs and during the course of his/her antiretroviral treatment, and the promotion of ARV services on local radio stations.
After nine months of operation, CCP organized a workshop with its partners to take stock and share best practices. What are the results?
First of all, the number of people enrolled and counseled before and after starting ARVs has increased significantly: at the El Rapha health center in Abobo (Abidjan) it went from 1765 enrolled to 2557. As for its active roll, this center counted 1089 patients in March 2009; now in January 2010 it has 1511. There has also been a clear improvement in pre- and post ART counseling and a greater involvement of community counselors in this activity (from 29% to 80 and even 100% at some sites), thanks to the training sessions in IPC and counseling for treatment adherence.
Tools and cue cards have been developed for health providers and community counselors to facilitate and harmonize the prescription and follow-up of ARV treatment. The service providers themselves, as well as the clients, appreciate these positive changes. According to Dr. Léaman, Chief Medical Officer of the Dioulakro urban dispensary in Abengourou, “This quality program has allowed us to better organize our services. The clients who come from the villages surrounding Abengourou no longer have to wait a long time before being seen.”
To reinforce these on-site activities, radio programs hosted by health providers and supported by the testimonies of PLHA on ARVs started in November 2009 to promote medical treatment services in the communities surrounding the health centers. Small group discussions using recordings of these radio programs will be organized at the service delivery sites. And, to further promote ARVs, CCP will soon make available to service providers a film entitled Adjara, l’espoir (Adjara, Hope).
One major challenge remains: reducing the large number of patients who disappear from sight.
