Community based structural care and support for PLHIV and orphaned and vulnerable children

"Due to sensitivity, very few PLHIVs seeked for medical services as they are afraid of disclosure, social stigma and self stigmatization. The project trained a PE team who are very active in finding ways to approach, encourage and guide the PLWHA. Many PE even take the PLWHA to health facilities for health check up, ARV intake and go the PLWHA’s houses everyday for guiding and observing the PLWHA’s use of ARV.  From the fact that PLWHA are too hesitant to access health facilities and projects, now most of them seek medical care services in health facilities for check up and  treatment.

(Dr. Ho Huu Da - Director of Health Center of Vinh City )

Project title: Community-based structural care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphaned and vulnerable children

Location: Vinh city, Nghe An province

Donor: USAID/PEPFAR through Pact

Project partners: Nghe An AIDS Centre

Beneficiaries: People Living with HIV/AIDS and orphaned and vulnerable children

Duration: 5/2008-9/2011

Objective: to improve the wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) through home and community-based structural care and support.

Project description:  Being recognized recently as a focus province for the HIV/AIDS programme, Nghe An is facing with a lack of home and community-based care and support for PLHIV and OVC. The project carries out home and community-based care and support in Vinh and other districts of Nghe An. Major activities are:

• Building capacity for PLHIV/caregivers on home and community-based care and support for PLHIV and OVC.
• Provision of palliative care for PLHIV and basic services for OVC in Vinh city including referral services to health care facilities and income generation activities
• Provision of referral and logistic support for PLHIV and OVC in other districts of Nghe An

The project provides palliative care mainly for PLHIV and OVC in Vinh city while it focuses on referral and logistic support for PLHIV in other districts of Nghe An province. PLHIV will receive a wide range of services such as ARV treatment and adherence support; physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual care and support; social support; prevention; reduction of stigma and discrimination etc..  Similarly, OVC will receive basic services to ensure that their basic rights are respectted regardless of HIV status. The project also supports PLHIV to develop their own network of self-help groups.

Project approach

• Peer education: home-based care and support was implemented by well trained PLHIV through home or community visit. This created understanding and sympathizing environment between peer caregivers and project beneficiaries. It also ensured an easy language between them which enabled positive learning and improved project effectiveness.    
   
• Participation of target groups: target groups participated in all phases and activities. Beneficiaries including PLHIV, OVC and their caregivers defined their need and implemented most activities. They are both implementers and beneficiaries of the project. Representatives of Song Lam Xanh a PLHIV self-help group was represented in the Project Coordination Board. These have ensured project responsiveness to pressing need of target groups. 
   
• Respect for PLHIV and OVC rights: right-based approach was employed by project. Child right programming has been applied for the best interest of OVC. The project paid special attention to the rights which are often violated such as right to privacy, right to non-discrimination and equality, right to information, right to marry and to found a family. Raising awareness of PLHIV about their rights also integrated in project activities, especially through group meetings. 

• Conducted communication to fight stigma and discrimination against PLHIV at 10 secondary schools for all students and teachers and in 10 wards of Vinh city for local people.
• Provided comprehensive home-based care and support including physical, spiritual,  psychological care and funeral support for PLHIV. Provision of counseling for caregivers and family members of PLHIV.
• Organized thematic talk show on stigma and discrimination against PLHIV and child's rights on provincial TV

Read more "SUMMARY OF LESSONS LEARNED PROJECT CARE, PREVENTIVE HIV TRANSMISSION PERIOD 2008-2011"