RAPID RESULT INITIATIVE Western Area Sierra Leone

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RAPID RESULT INITIATIVEWestern Area -Sierra Leone

• VOLUNTARY CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELLING TESTING
• Presented by
• Dr. Amara Jambai MD MSc DLSHTM

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Situation before the inception of RRI

• Three Hospital-based VCCT centres existed.
• Few people used these centres.
• An average of 60 clients per month utilised
  hospital-based VCCT services

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RRI SPECIFIC GOAL

• Establish 25 VCCT service sites at community
  level to attend to minimum 40 clients per month
  per site within 100 days.

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Community Based Strategy

• The focus was directed at a community- based
  mobilization drive.
• 25 Health Facilities were selected from among
  Government, Private and NGOs.
• 50 Health Workers were chosen and trained
• The Health Workers also trained 10 Community
  Health Promoters at each health facility.

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The use of Community Members

• The Community Health Promoters mobilized clients
  for VCCT services on fixed days arranged at
  different locations.
• Based on this schedule, counsellors served five
  communities on a daily basis.

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Community based approach
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Other community related activities

• Community meetings traditional leaders, youths,
  TBAs, Volunteers and Womens groups
• Formation of post-test clubs
• Provision of promotional materials
• Street to street mobilization drive

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VCCT STEPS

• Group Counseling
• Individual counseling
• Testing Rapid Test Kits (Abbot Determine,
  Unigold and confirmation with SD Bioline further
  confirmation in the lab using ELISA)
• Post-test counseling

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THE RRI RESULTS
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RESULTS
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Lessons Learnt (Positive)

• VCCT shifting from hospital- based to
  Community-based is a major boost for HIV/AIDS
  activities.
• Utilization of the services of Community Health
  Promoters has made marked improvement in VCCT
  services.
• Use of rapid test kits encourages high turnout.
• Community participation is a prerequisite in
  achieving results.
• The RRI Approach cuts across bureaucracy at all
  levels.

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Lessons Learnt (Negative)

• Insufficient test kit is a de-motivating factor
  for clients and service providers.
• Acceptance of off site bleeding of clients is
  minimal and yields low participation.

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RRIs Main Insights

• People are now willing to know their HIV status
  more than ever before
• The prevalence of the disease in the community is
  better appreciated.

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Scale up plans

• VCCT should be added into Primary Health Cares
  routine activities
• In-charges of health units should be given a
  comprehensive training on VCCT
• Rapid test kits be made available at health units
  with trained counsellors as In-charges
• Community Health Promoters (CHPs) should be
  encouraged to continue with community
  sensitization drive.

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Situation at the end of RRI

• Request continue to be made for VCCT services at
  health facilities.
• Attendance at Hospital based VCCT sites stands at
  approximately 295 clients per month per site.

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RECOMMENDATION

• VCCT community approach should be integrated into
  routine health care activities.
• Adequate support for PLWHAs should be put in
  place.
• Rapid Test kits be made available to meet
  demands.

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Thank you