How do DAPCUs facilitate Pre ART registration of all found positive)? A few emerging themes based on DAPCU responses on this blog (please click on the name of the district to view their detailed response)

Coordination between ICTC and ART Centres

• Through monthly coordination meetings - Ganjam shares that they collate the information available with them prior to the meeting and review gaps during their meetings.
• Through tools like ICTC -ART coordination sheet (Rajkot)
• Exchange phone numbers and stay in touch is what some DAPCUs have to say.  Phone calls and SMSs are sent between counsellors of ICTC and ART to inform that a client might be visiting or to inform that referred clients have reached. (Surat). This supports daily tracking between facilities.
•  Through email - In Coimbatore the ICTC informs DAPCU and ART centres via email about the found positives and referrals. ART Centre sends a similar communication to them when the clients register for Pre ART. For pregnant women (ANC) the PPTCT NGOs are informed via email. This is a weekly process in Coimbatore.

Accompanied referrals

• In Central Delhi counsellors often accompany positive clients for Pre Art registration. (They have also provided the trend of Pre ART registration in their district from April 11-Dec 11, please visit Central Delhi’s post for details.)
• For East Delhi accompanied referral is especially useful if as they share that the ART centre is distant and not in their district
• Outreach teams of the PPTCT and DLN accompany positive clients to the ART centre – share Satara, Surat

Field Follow Up

• In Bangalore Urban , the team first mapped the outreach teams available in the district and then deputed them to follow up on positive individuals for Pre Art registration. They have also shared the ANC trends CD4 and ART please visit Bangalore Urban’s post for details.
• In Amravati the grassroots team is provided a list of identified positive individuals who have not undergone Pre ART registration and home visits and follow up is ensured by them. Similar processes are followed at Balangir and additionally they share that there are block wise point persons from the DLN who support this activity. (They have share data for the period of 2010-2011 on Found Positive vs. Pre ART registrations please visit Balangir’s post for details.)
• Coordination with other programmes like RNTCP. In Central Delhi , RNTCP counsellors help TB clients who are HIV positive get registered at ART
• In Tirupur Counsellor Outreach is a special focus and they have tracked and shared examples of their success. Tirupur has provided specific examples on counsellor outreach visit resulting in pre ART registration please visit Tirupur’s post for details.
• TI counsellors maintain positive line list in North Delhi and ensure follow up through PEs
• In Churachandpur , NGO partners are informed regarding the clients in their region testing positive and they are expected to follow up
• In Nanded the DAPCU shares that they meet with PHC MO and Sub-center ANM, ASHA to encourage follow up and also brief them on confidentiality. They have shared cumulative achievements for 2011-12 please visit Nanded’s post for details.

Inter District Coordination

• Dahod recommends that informing other districts about clients from their districts testing positive or registering for ART centre is equally important. Erode and Coimbatore  also share that they send this information to other districts.

A few other strategies 

• No user charges – free tests prior to ART registration (Balangir)
• Provision of transport facilities through the Rogi Kalyan Samiti in Dahod . They have provided details from April 2011-Dec 2011 on Pre ART registration along with the reasons found for individuals who have not undergone Pre ART registration. Please visit Dahod’s posts for details.