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For HIV-infected children in Sub-Saharan Africa to receive holistic, high quality health support and services. The Expert Patient Programme will address acute staff shortages in the health services, and empower people living with HIV by training them to provide support in clinics and the community.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV-positive, of which over 3 million are children. Only 28% have access to HIV treatment. HIV-positive children should be engaged in a pathway of care: starting with diagnosis and including counselling and guidance. Adherence is vital to avoid drug resistance and premature death, but this is challenging. It requires regular and continuous involvement of skilled healthcare workers but there is a shortage of medical staff and inadequate resources.
Solution
Expert Patients (EPs) are HIV-positive individuals, employed in clinics, who use their experience to help others. EPs assist with routine tasks such as weighing children, allowing doctors and nurses to address more technical aspects of treatment. EPs educ