Blue Cross Nyatike continues to work with the National and County Government of Kenya and other actors to improve HIV, MNCH , Malaria and TB outcomes and impact.
It is critical for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to have access to essential health services including nutrition, child survival programs, prenatal care, HIV prevention and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, palliative care and anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.
Supporting integration of PMTCT and pediatric HIV with maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) services, early childhood development programs, and feeding and nutrition programs at policy- program- and service delivery levels can significantly improve Health support for children affected by HIV/AIDS include integrated health services help to ensure that children and families receive the support they need to prevent, cope with- and treat illness. Integration aims to enable HIV-affected and infected families “to access different but connected health and psychological care services from one point, rather than through many fragmented services and providers. By doing this, HIV healthcare workers are better able to improve patient outcomes with efficiency for both the client and the healthcare system”
Health interventions within effective orphans and vulnerable children’s programs are child-focused, recognizing children’s needs at different ages and stages of development, and family-centered, providing services to all children and adults in a family. Ideally, services are linked together and co-located to strengthen cross referrals and a continuum of care.
Key Health Support Activities and Messages
- Scale up services through health system strengthening at all levels.
- Co-locate orphans and vulnerable children’s programs near clinic-based programs.
- Promote child-focused, family-centered health interventions.
- Support caregivers with guidance on how to provide basic health care to children
- Support integration of PMTCT and pediatric HIV with maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) services, early childhood development programs, OVC programs and feeding and nutrition programs at policy- program- and service delivery levels to significantly improve MNCH and HIV outcomes and impact.
- Address Stigma and Discrimination to reduce barriers to uptake of services.