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How We Achieve HIV/AIDS Prevention Through the Intergration of the CAG model with the Home Based Care Team
CHEC has been working for over seven years within three Operational Districts (ODs) of Sa Ang, Kampong Tralach and Preah Sdach, nearly three years within two ODs of Chhouk and Srey Santhor and over a year within Ta Khmao and Boribo ODs to educate and train village leaders, community health centre staff, and village health volunteers, in partnership with ODs and Provincial Health Departments. Prior to the training, a baseline survey was conducted in each OD as a basis for evaluation of services required.
In each OD an initial four-day Community Education Approaches training course was held. Training 200 people, in 10 groups of 20, the course detailed basic HIV/AIDS information and ways to educate villagers in the community. The 200 participants were chosen through their existing links with village health centers. They included village leaders, village volunteers, health centre staff, health centre management committees, traditional birthing attendants, traditional healers and fgeneral community members and service users.
CHEC training uses a cascade theory of training delivery and utilizes participatory and interactive techniques. From each OD's participants, sixty were selected to attend the further Community Management Training courses. Twenty health centres and the OD staff were selected to attend the training courses on Professional Counseling.
CHEC also provide training on TB/HIV and ARV to the selected Community Action Groups (CAG) so as to ensure that community members are provided with access to education services in a variety of settings. both formal and informal. Some such places of contact for education are events like ceremonies, religious gathering, NGO meetings and simple informal conversations within the village. The CAG coordinate their counseling, referrals and education with local VCCT, health centre and referral hospitals.
The main focus of CHEC’s activities within the project is to achieve local ownership of effective provision of counseling, care and support to PLHIVs and to build their capacity in program implementation.
The HBC project’s incorporations of participatory and interactive techniques within an enabling environment have resulted in improved knowledge within communities so that community members have been motivated to seek VCCT services and OI/ARV treatment. The quality and accessibility of care for PLHIV/AIDS patients has improved due to the collective efforts of CAG and CCAG members, HBC team members, health centre members and community members. Continuous educational efforts within communities on tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and STI transmission and prevention has expanded the capacity of health care providers to provide treatment, care and support to PLHIV/AIDS patients and to link their care and support system to community and village volunteers, thereby increasing the support base. In turn assisting the communities to mobilize and develop appropriate care and support mechanisms for people with HIV/AIDS, from home-based care to hospital care. This has meant that suspected community members fitting a high risk profile for example due to constant migration for employment reasons have been encouraged to get tested for HIV/AIDS before health deterioration.
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CHEC HBC teams' members in Sa Ang together with CHEC Director and PACT staff
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