AEGiS-14IAC: Mildmay international/ CDC paediatric HIV/AIDS programme: needs assessment and impact of the programme in Uganda.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Mildmay international/ CDC paediatric HIV/AIDS programme: needs assessment and impact of the programme in Uganda.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. WeOrF1289)

Asiimwe E, Muwayi F, O'Keeffe C, Downing J, Hiffler L
Mildmay International, Kampala, Uganda

ISSUES: Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Uganda, developments have been made in the care of adults living with HIV/AIDS. However, little has been done to cater for the growing numbers of children infected with HIV in terms of care services, counseling and prevention.

DESCRIPTION: A one year pilot programme on Paediatric HIV/AIDS care, counseling and prevention commenced in January 2001. It was implemented by the Mobile Paediatric Clinical Training Team (MPCTT) from the Mildmay Centre in Uganda and funded by CDC. A needs assessment was carried out in five Districts and a number of Health institutions, non-governmental organisations and District authorities were contacted. This revealed that there were major factors lacking in the delivery of comprehensive care for children infected with HIV. These included a lack of trained/ skilled health workers/ counselors, inadequate and irregular drug supplies, a lack of affordable HIV testing facilities for children, coupled with poverty. In response to this the MPCTT conducted a modular training programme over 8 months, for 26 participants from these districts in order to train them in paediatric HIV/AIDS care and then to train others. To date a further 162 health workers have been trained. Alongside this clinical guidelines and a training manual on paediatric HIV/AIDS care has been developed.

ISSUES: There is a need for awareness of the issues in caring for children infected with HIV. This has been created through this programme and the negative attitudes of health workers and carers has changed. Capacity building through training can be achieved along with the integration of paediatric services into existing services. Training individuals from health units within the same districts also leads to improved referrals and networking amongst the health institutions.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Advocacy for more training, improved drug supplies and affordable HIV testing facilities for children is needed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.), Needs Assessment, HIV Seropositivity, Counseling, Health Education, Uganda, Social Support, Child, Human, Adult, Education

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