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Country Profiles

Kenya National Conference

USAID, NASCOP Convoke ART Groups for National Conference

dr. james nyikalNAIROBI, Kenya - The National HIV/AIDS and STD Control Program of Kenya (NASCOP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted the Second National Consultative Technical Meeting on Antiretroviral Therapy here on March 3 and 4, 2004. Warren Buckingham of USAID gave the opening address, and the Director of Medical Services of Kenya, Dr. James Nyikal, concluded the two-day meeting with the way forward.

During the meeting, more than 130 participants reviewed progress in Kenya ART programming since the first consultative meeting in 2001, sharing lessons learned and best practices. Participants also discussed the pressing needs surrounding their plans for rapid scale-up of ART to meet PEPFAR and World Health Organization goals.

meeting participant photo 1Officials attending the meeting included representatives from all HIV/AIDS stakeholders, from government to public to private providers of medical services. Members of the Kenyan Ministry of Health attended, as well as physicians from mission and private hospitals providing comprehensive care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Programmatic donors USAID and CDC also sent representatives.

Organizations that provide technical assistance in ART - such as Family Health International, MEDS, MSF, Management Sciences for Health, John Snow, Inc., and Population Services International - participated in the meeting. These groups gave presentations on key ART issues, such as commodity management, human resource development, and monitoring and evaluation.

meeting participant photo 2

Most importantly, NASCOP and the IMPACT Project invited local recipients of ART services, those people already living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya, to the event. They provided a vital perspective from the community of users of ART services.
 

Currently, the findings and information from the meeting are being compiled to document and share best practices in ART programs from around the country. Expected practical recommendations for programming from the meeting include:

  • management of information systems and program monitoring
  • rational drug and commodity management
  • human resource capacity building
  • PLWHA participation and behavior change communication
  • organization and services delivery, patient monitoring, and laboratory services

The report will be posted on the Kenya country home page of the FHI Web site. Check back soon for the full report.

Photo, Top: Dr. James Nyikal concludes the two-day meeting by focusing on issues to confront moving forward. (FHI)

Photo, Middle: Unidentified meeting participants work in groups to discuss HIV/AIDS issues in their regions of Kenya. (FHI) View a larger photo.

Photo, Bottom: Unidentified meeting participants work in groups to discuss HIV/AIDS issues in their regions of Kenya. (FHI) View a larger photo.