More than 2500 HIV-positive People Treated with Life-saving Drugs as Part of FHI's Comprehensive Care Initiatives - July 12, 2004

Arlington, VA — Family Health International (FHI) is pleased to announce that as of this week more than 2,500 people have accessed life-saving treatment for AIDS as part of FHI-supported comprehensive care programs in Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Rwanda. Major funding for these efforts has come from the United States Agency for International Development—now through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development.

The comprehensive care programs take a multi-layered approach. They combine antiretroviral therapy (ART) with clinical care for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections and opportunistic infections, voluntary HIV counseling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, palliative care and referrals for home-based care services. More than 7,500 people have received clinical care for AIDS-related illnesses as part of the programs.

Dr. Peter Lamptey, President of FHI's Institute for HIV/AIDS explains, "We are very excited to expand access to treatment as part of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS care program. We realize this is just a drop in the bucket of those who need treatment, and we applaud the global efforts to scale up these programs to reach even more people desperately in need."

The programs have been a true collaborative effort among FHI, the national governments and local health facilities, many of which are faith-based. At Kabgayi Hospital, a Catholic Mission facility in rural Rwanda, FHI has integrated the comprehensive care program into existing services. Not only is this hospital well-positioned to reach the surrounding population, but it also provides a good foundation through which to educate the community.

Clients in the program have demonstrated impressively high adherence rates to the drug regimens. In Rwanda, 98 percent of patients who had been on ART for six months were able to follow the required regimens. This can in part be attributed to a component of the program called the "buddy system." Patients who meet the requirements for ART must enroll in the program with a "buddy"—most often a family member or close friend— who is also educated in how and when to take the antiretroviral drugs. This allows for each patient to receive the support they need while buddies learn the facts about HIV/AIDS and drug regimens.

FHI has worked with the community and health workers to reduce the stigma associated with the virus. Community efforts have included the distribution of HIV/AIDS educational material, peer education programs, and the promotion of HIV counseling and testing. Health workers are trained to provide counseling and administer medication, with a particular emphasis on client confidentiality and sensitivity. After receiving training on HIV and ART, people living with HIV/AIDS help to educate about HIV, testing, care and treatment, as well as provide emotional support to HIV-positive patients and their families.
 
The mere availability of care and treatment services offers hope and encourages people who previously saw no point in learning their status to come to the centers to be tested for HIV. In many sites, the demand for services exceeds the capacity of the facilities.  FHI works closely with governments and health facilities to strengthen their services and train staff as part of ongoing capacity-building efforts.
 
Elisa was one of the first people to enroll in Rwanda's program, the first USAID-funded program to treat patients with ART. Since receiving clinical care and starting the antiretroviral drugs in February 2003, her health has improved dramatically. She explains, "I want to advise other people who have AIDS not to despair, but to be strong and have hope. I will tell them that my life is going on and how grateful I am."

Family Health International is dedicated to improving lives, knowledge and understanding worldwide through a highly diversified program of research, education and services in family health and HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. Since its inception in 1971, FHI has formed partnerships with national governments and local communities throughout the developing world to support lasting improvements in the health of individuals and the effectiveness of entire health systems. FHI has a staff of 1200 and offices in 40 countries.

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Editors: For more information, please contact Lisa Hunter at lhunter@fhi.org or +1-703-516-9779.