Strengthening Partnerships to Ensure Sustainable HIV Care and Treatment
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. When the first programs launched in 2004, many did not believe it was possible to deliver quality HIV treatment to people in remote, impoverished areas.
It was.
Between 2004 and 2013, AIDSRelief, a consortium of organizations led by Catholic Relief Services, supported HIV care and treatment services for poor and underserved people in 10 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. The program served more than 700,000 patients, including more than 390,000 who enrolled in antiretroviral therapy, or ART, through 276 health facilities.
Thanks to AIDSRelief, a consortium led by CRS, Julia Mosoma receives quality HIV care at her local clinic in South Africa. Photo by Willie Pietersen for CRS
At the same time, CRS and our partners trained local organizations so they could eventually run the program.
A new report, commissioned by CRS, looks at four countries —Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa—and highlights how our local partners have successfully implemented antiretroviral therapy projects since transitioning from the AIDSRelief program 2 years ago. AIDSRelief set the stage for their success by improving accounting practices, electronic patient databases and hospital pharmacies.
Each of the countries profiled in the report faced transition challenges. But patient enrollment on ART has increased by 30%–40%, and retention and mortality rates have been maintained.
“AIDSRelief set a gold standard for health outcomes like viral suppression rates, low mortality and high patient retention,” says Michelle Broemmelsiek, former chief of party for AIDSRelief. “Our partners succeeded in maintaining these standards after the handover of the program.”
Read the report here.
Additional Resources
Learn: Read more about the AIDSRelief transition in our Media Center.
Learn: Read more about the AIDSRelief Final Report here.
Give: Support CRS health projects around the world.
Pray: Explore our prayer resources.
