Dignity and Support: New Guidelines Strengthen Case Management in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is increasingly available to people living with HIV and AIDS. Without continued attention, however, many who begin therapy are "lost to follow-up," or struggle to adhere to their treatment plan. Training a cadre of case managers to provide compassionate, personalized, follow-up and care from the very beginning of treatment is one way to meet this challenge. In Ethiopia, a new resource, supported by I-TECH and partners, will help to strengthen this response and reduce strain on health care facilities. On 9 December 2009, the National HIV/AIDS Case Management Implementation Guidelines were launched at a reception in the capital city, Addis Ababa.
Photo credit: Julia Sherburne
In Ethiopia, life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is increasingly available to people living with HIV and AIDS. Without continued attention, however, many who begin therapy are "lost to follow-up," or struggle to adhere to their treatment plan.
Training a cadre of case managers to provide compassionate, personalized, follow-up and care from the very beginning of treatment is one way to meet this challenge. In Ethiopia, a new resource, supported by I-TECH and partners, will help to strengthen this response and reduce strain on health care facilities. On 9 December 2009, the National HIV/AIDS Case Management Implementation Guidelines were launched at a reception in the capital city, Addis Ababa.
The new guidelines are the result of four years of effort by several organizations, and are designed to establish a framework for country-wide HIV and AIDS case management services. They are particularly geared toward supporting those patients for whom adherence to treatment and continued care is most critical. The event brought together health policy makers and delegates from I-TECH, the World Health Organization, the United States government, and various government and non-governmental agencies.
Case managers are lay workers specially trained to help clients continue their treatment plans. These workers facilitate adherence by involving patients in their own care, coordinating services, and providing links to community resources.
This approach has been used in Ethiopia for several years. In 2006, the Ministry of Health asked I-TECH to harmonize existing case management systems and develop a sustainable, pragmatic, and culturally appropriate model. With funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and technical assistance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I-TECH worked with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (FHAPCO) to develop and pilot a model, along with guidelines for training new case managers.
The launch of the new implementation guidelines furthers this work, and guides the continued development of a powerful cadre of adherence case managers. Wherever they are needed—at hospitals, in clinics, or in patient’s homes—these case managers are prepared to help clients with adherence and support them with compassion, confidentiality, and dignity.
