Retaining children in HIV care

Rene Ekpini of UNICEF. © IAS/Steve Shapiro - Commercialimage.net

On the same theme of keeping people in care, the Washington conference was told that three-quarters of children in need of HIV therapy are not receiving treatment, an unacceptable situation.

However, a variety of schemes show that this situation can be remedied.

One, implemented in Malawi, includes the provision of lifelong HIV treatment to all HIV-positive pregnant women, regardless of their CD4 cell count.

Another intervention in Zimbabwe has increased rates of diagnoses among children.

A number of practical measures – often with the local community playing a pivotal role – were also improving the retention of children in care.

These included:

• Use of community volunteers to accompany children to clinic appointments.
• Patient advocacy.
• Provision of transport vouchers.