SEPTEMBER 2007 — Throughout an eight-year period, the Implementing AIDS Prevention and Care (IMPACT) Project in Kenya evolved to address the changing face of the epidemic. It first set out to prevent HIV, but later began providing care and treatment to patients. More than 100 partner organizations, including governmental, nongovernmental, faith- and community-based organizations took part in these efforts.

At IMPACT's outset, USAID and FHI selected five community sites in Western, Rift Valley, and Coast provinces for prevention programming, based on HIV prevalence and intervention needs. Activities included community outreach focusing on salaried workers, female sex workers, women, and youth; health care sector upgrading in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), maternal health, and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services; and behavior change communication.

In 2003, IMPACT/Kenya adapted to address priorities put forth by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. As a result, IMPACT increased its focus on care and treatment and linked it to the prevention, care, and support program. Likewise, the communication response evolved from purely a prevention program to include treatment and support messages and prevention in the care setting. Nairobi was also added as a priority region.

IMPACT/Kenya was a pioneer in HIV and AIDS programming, particularly in VCT, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and clinical treatment, behavioral surveillance (BSS), and health management information systems (HMIS).