INTEGRATING FAMILY PLANNING AND ART INTERVENTIONS

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INTEGRATING FAMILY PLANNING AND ART
INTERVENTIONS

• Speaker Dorothy Odhiambo, Network of African
  People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAP)

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ISSUES.

• Need for PLWHA to take a leadership role in
  determining and enforcing their sexual and RH
  rights and needs, to participate actively in
  development of programs and policies governing
  SRH and treatment
• Identify SRH needs of PLWHA which to some extent
  differ from those not living with HIV
• Identify SRH problems that arise as a result of
  HIV and AIDS that require an integrated approach.

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ISSUESCont.

• Knowledge of what realistically constitute
  integration of SRH of PLWHA into HIV and related
  treatment is urgently required.
• Strategic partnerships, linkages and networks
  needed to provide leadership in advocacy to
  enhance integration
• Need for coordination structures and integration
  frameworks that work in specific contexts
• Advocacy around policy frameworks that encourage
  vertical HIV and SRH programs

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CHALLENGES TO INTERGRATION

• Technical difficulties in implementing
  comprehensive integrated services for PLWHA.
• Specific SRH needs such as dual prevention
  PMTCT services, ARVS are not likely to be
  available within single service delivery
  points.
• Lack of skills and expertise of staff to
  integrate all the SRH needs of PLWHA into
  treatment programs
• Overcoming cultural, psychological and negative
  attitude of health care providers that may hamper
  comprehensive service delivery of integrated
  programs.
• Inadequate resources, Donor conditionality hamper
  integration of services.

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CHALLENGES CONT.

• Coordinating logistics of comprehensive
  integration and sharing resources with other
  PLWHA related services like, HBC, Economic
  strengthening programs, etc can be a challenge
• Vertical progs, managed by conservative service
  providers resistant to change.
• Existing services are likely to be overstretched,
  financially and in terms of HR to respond to SRH
  needs of PLWHA.

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CHALLENGES STILL BEING FACED.

• Stigma and discrimination and negative attitude
  of service providers requires behaviour change
• Holistic and comprehensive integrated services
  for PLWHA still difficult to come by.
• Service providers lack skills ,expertise and
  information to fully integrate services.
• Lack of systematic procedures and models for
  integration.

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATION.

• Increased funding for HIV/AIDS treatment in
  Africa presents an opportunity for comprehensive
  integrated services
• Integrated services are likely to attract special
  attention and resources earmarked for both
  HIV/AIDS and FP/SRH.
• Ensure sustainable integrated interventions

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OPPORTUNITIES

• Reduced HIV/AIDS related stigma and
  discrimination as a result of improved access to
  treatment, care and support
• Increased uptake of VCT in many African
  countries,leading to positive health seeking
  behaviour including FP and other SRH services

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATION

• Optimizing use of scarce finances, ensure
  rational use of facilities and human resources.
• Renewed focus on GIPA/MIPA in the design,
  implementation and evaluation of policies and
  programs affecting PLWHA including SRH and
  treatment options
• Development of Broad institutional frameworks to
  support integration and Effective monitoring of
  quality of services.

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MOVING POLICY TO ACTION

• Build capacity of PLWHA and service providers,
  empower them to understand ,appreciate and demand
  for SRH as part of comprehensive care and
  support
• Document and disseminate good care practices on
  comprehensive integrated services that include
  treatment and SRH needs of PLWHA.
• Leadership by all stakeholders to increase
  visibility and knowledge of SRH needs of PLWHA as
  part of care.
• Improve service provider relationship through a
  PLWHA centered approach, sensitize service
  providers to respond to SRH needs of PLWHA
• Leadership at higher levels needed for continued
  advocacy for integrated services

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KEY MESSAGES

• Call upon policy makers, donors, researchers and
  activists to support integration of SRH in
  HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support
  programs
• Need for leadership to advocate for consistency
  and alignment in policies governing FP and
  HIV/AIDS prevention and care to enhance
  integration
• All actors to Meaningfully involve communities
  and PLWHA in designing, implementing and
  evaluating integrated programs