The Paediatric and Adolescent HIV Scale-up Project
Co-funded by ELMA Philanthropies and USAID, the Paediatric and Adolescent HIV Scale-up Project (PASP) at Right to Care was implemented by Right to Care, Anova Health Institute and the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI) in sub-districts A and B in the City of Johannesburg.
Key objectives of the programme were:
- To improve rates of earlier HIV diagnosis in children and adolescents and
- To increase access to quality HIV treatment and care for children and adolescents.
The programme initially supported eight sites but expanded to include every facility across the sub-districts.
Interventions
In sub-district A there was a higher burden of HIV-infected children and adolescents. Programme staff went to every facility at least once a week. They provided:
In sub-district B, testing yielded fewer positive patients. Programme staff then offered weekly testing at high-volume sites and monthly testing at other sites.
Key achievements
The programme helped to:
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- improve detection in paediatric patients through the use of the Right to Care screening tool which identified children and families at risk of living with HIV.
- improve linkage of infants to care and treatment. The recruitment of a coordinator to assist with follow-up supported this effort.
- tailor services towards the needs of children and adolescents.
Clinical and psychosocial support were provided by the Right to Care team to children and adolescents:
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- with high viral loads
- who did not know they were HIV-positive and
- who were not adherent to their treatment.
Right to Care developed the Flipster tool which provides specially-curated information on topics relevant to adolescents. Healthcare workers were trained to use the tool to:
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- help young people cope with HIV and
- adhere to their treatment.
