Empower Project: 1/3 of the national HIV-infected patient cohort supported, number of compliant patients doubled – an important contribution to the international strategy against HIV in Sierra Leone
2nd annual workshop with HIV/AIDS stakeholders in Sierra Leone
14 February 2018 | Informations
SIERRA LEONECAPACITY BUILDINGSTRENGTHENING SYSTEMS AND HEALTH SERVICESFighting HIV / AIDS
On the 6th of February, Solthis Sierra Leone organized its 2nd annual workshop to engage with stakeholders of the Empower Project and to showcase the results achieved. Participants covered a wide array of organisations from people living with HIV, international and national NGOs, civil society groups, Ministry of health, district health management teams, UN agencies (UNICEF, UNAIDS) who attended and made valuable contributions to the workshop.
Empower: a contribution to UNAIDS 90-90-90 achievement in Sierra Leone
The event also allowed Solthis to brainstorm with key partners on the 3rd and last year of implementation with regards to sustainability and project endurance. Co-funded by the AFD, the City of Paris and the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme, the project” Empower” started in January 2016 for 3 years and aims at improving the quality of cares for People living with HIV (PLHIV) in Sierra Leone. The project includes capacity building components for both PLHIV and health professionals as well as an institutional support component.
“ Solthis has truly helped us to improve our knowledge and our practices, thanks to the training and the clinical mentoring sessions given by its team” Mariama Sheriff, HIV Nurse counselor, Lumley Governement Hospital.
The audience generally expressed genuine appreciation to Solthis Sierra Leone for the commitment and continuous support provided at national level, facility level as well as community level. The joint cooperation between these levels, especially the medical component and the community component, core aspect of the project, was seen as an important strategy for achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 in Sierra Leone.
On December 31, 2017, the number of patients under antiretroviral treatment in health facilities supported by Solthis was 6971, i.e., 29% of HIV infected patients supported in Sierra Leone
- 15 classroom trainings completed for 301 health workers and patients’support groups leaders.
- 6 emporwerment sessions for 194 patients’ support groups members.
- 110 individuals trained on targeted selected topics
- The number of HIV- infected patients taking regularly their treatment improved : the adherence score increased by 33 points from 25% to 58%.
- The number of HIV- infected patients going regularly to their medical consultation improved : increase by 75% of the retention score.
- 100% of Empower sites received an average of 4 times of mentoring visits each month, i.e., 150 hours per hour of clinical mentoring.
- 551 health workers and HIV-infected patients sensitized on the patient’s rights charter.
