AEGiS-15IAC: Developing a national antiretroviral treatment (ART) program in Kenya.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Developing a national antiretroviral treatment (ART) program in Kenya.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. WeOrB1313)

Wangai M, Macharia D, Marum L, Odera D, Munyisia E, Gathendu B, Chebet KL
Kenya National AIDS/STD Control Programme, Nairobi, Kenya

ISSUES: In Kenya, up to 1.8 million people are HIV infected, and it is estimated that 280,000 currently have AIDS. HIV has negatively impacted on economic productivity, literacy levels, infant mortality and life expectancy, thereby posing a significant risk to national development and security. ART can mitigate some of these effects, but may be difficult to implement in settings with limited infrastructure and resources.

DESCRIPTION: The Kenyan National ART program began with a situational assessment in November, 2002, that established current ART activities and charted the way-forward with public, private, NGO sectors, and faith based organizations. An ART task force was set up under the auspices of the National AIDS Control Unit, to advise the Ministry of Health on matters relating to ART scale up and draws membership from technical experts and bilateral partners. By December, 2002, there were approximately 7,000 HIV-infected people on ART; currently this is estimated at 11,000, and projected to reach 50,000 by end of 2004.

LESSONS LEARNED: The ARV task force has developed a working program goal and guidelines for ARV use incorporating: eligibility criteria, standardized ARV regimens, and laboratory monitoring. A national training manual with a multidisciplinary team approach to HIV care, logistics monitoring tools, and a basic standard of care package have also been developed.

RECOMMENDATIONS: To meet national and international targets for ART in a resource limited country, political commitment, private-public partnerships, and consensus building among stakeholders are critical. National coordination of all partners, rational resource allocation, development of systems that ensure quality of care, and effective communications strategies, need to be addressed; while exploring other innovative mechanisms for effective care.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, HIV Infections, Kenya, Federal Government, Organizations, HIV Seropositivity, Health Planning Guidelines, Health Resources, Humans, Infant, therapy, economics, organization & administration

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