Churachandpur, DAPCU – Response to Question of the Month February 2012 - Facilitating Pre ART Registration

This post was in response to the February 2012 theme

STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY DAPCU,CHURACHANDPUR DISTRICT  IN ENSURING ALL HIV +VE CLIENTS DETECTED FOR PRE-ART REGISTRATION AT ARTC:-

1.Ensuring best quality Post-test Counseling for mitigation of fear/stigma psychosis in accessing ARTc for Pre-ART registration: Even if ARTc is sharing the same roof, if quality of post test counseling fails, the Positive Client might not get registered.

2.Accompanied Referral for the Hub Facility(ICTC) nearer to the ARTc: Most of the time, distance speaks, especially for a hilly district like Churachandpur where road/transport communication is always a problem. The best strategy is to accompany the Positive Client directly to the Counselor of the ARTc for Pre ART Registration (not to send nor refer alone,).The role of Community Care Coordinator,ARTc is highly eminent here but in some ARTcs,like ARTc,CCPur the post of Com. Care Coordinator is not filled thereby causing a big gap in service delivery(No one to coordinate accompanied referral to ensure Pre-ART Registration)

3. Individual Tracking & Feedback to the Referring NGO/Provider:For every Positive Client detected at ICTC, the details of the Client’s address(+Name of TD Block), contact N0.,Reference Person in the town where ARTc is located etc and the  referring NGO/Provider are well noted.

4. Tactful Scanning of ICTC Clients in Pre-test Counseling: Many a times, the counselors are dismayed  when the Positive Clients detected in ICTC disclosed that they were on ART already after the test result is out ,and they had come for the test again. This is one of the main factor's responsible for shortage of Pre-ART registration in ARTc against the total Positive detected in ICTCs.

5. Maintaining consistency at ICTCs in following up of Positive Clients till they get registered:-The major reasons for not registering/delayed registration are:i)Family Members simply refuse to declare the test result. ii) Non acceptance of his/her status,   iii) Fear of  Social Stigma, etc.etc.The +ve Client has to overcome all those factors before registration in ARTc.It takes time ,maybe in terms of months or even years. But the Counselor/ICTC team are instructed to maintain consistency in continual counseling/advocacy of the amily Members/Close relatives and the +ve   Client. Female HIV Positive Clients are harder to tackle with all stratified layers of advocacy required. Nevertheless we have to keep on tracking till ..that time.