Funded by: RTSL | Duration: September 1, 2021 – November 30, 2022
Background
The Accelerating Hypertension-HIV Care and Treatment (AHHCT) project, funded by Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), was piloted in 30 Health Facilities in Akwa Ibom State for 12 months, from August 2021 to November 2022. The 30 Health facilities that participated in the pilot were randomly selected from 19 LGAs of the 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom. The participating facilities constitute 11 Primary Health Care Facilities and 19 Secondary Health Care Facilities.
GOAL
To reduce the burden and potential negative health effects of hypertension among PLHIV in 30 health facilities in Akwa Ibom State, Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) from August 2021 to November 2022, provided funds to FHI 360 to integrate routine screening, diagnosis, and management of hypertension, and initiated hypertension treatment among PLHIV with hypertension.
To reduce the burden and potential negative health effects of hypertension among PLHIV in 30 health facilities in Akwa Ibom State, Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) from August 2021 to November 2022, provided funds to FHI 360 to integrate routine screening, diagnosis, and management of hypertension, and initiated hypertension treatment among PLHIV with hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the AHHCT project is to integrate HIV and Hypertension service Delivery as a bundled service obtainable as a single service in all the 30 Participating health facilities. Like a “one-stop-shop” model, the AHHCT project’s The objective is to ensure that PLHIV clients are also screened for hypertension and if diagnosed, are promptly placed on relevant treatments, all within one service Window. At the end of the project, an end of project evaluation was conducted and from the findings of the evaluation, as documented in this report, the AHHCT project successfully piloted the integration of HIV+HTN service delivery as a bundled service, in the 30 focal health facilities.
The objective of the AHHCT project is to integrate HIV and Hypertension service Delivery as a bundled service obtainable as a single service in all the 30 Participating health facilities. Like a “one-stop-shop” model, the AHHCT project’s The objective is to ensure that PLHIV clients are also screened for hypertension and if diagnosed, are promptly placed on relevant treatments, all within one service Window. At the end of the project, an end of project evaluation was conducted and from the findings of the evaluation, as documented in this report, the AHHCT project successfully piloted the integration of HIV+HTN service delivery as a bundled service, in the 30 focal health facilities.
The benefit of this novel project is multifaceted, key amongst which are:
(a) Increase access to both services in a “one-stop-shop” model i.e.; an integrated point of service.
(b) Reduce staffing needs through the integrated services, which can be provided by an individual health provider under the AHHCT model, as against being handled separately.
(c) Potentially reduce stigmatization and waiting time at the HIV clinics.
(a) Increase access to both services in a “one-stop-shop” model i.e.; an integrated point of service.
(b) Reduce staffing needs through the integrated services, which can be provided by an individual health provider under the AHHCT model, as against being handled separately.
(c) Potentially reduce stigmatization and waiting time at the HIV clinics.
However, these benefits are threatened by some key constraints inherent in health facilities across the country, such as;
(a) Limited health education and training on the provision of NCD care,
(b) limited availability of diagnostic equipment and medication,
(c) High workload on health personnel
(d) Inadequate health workforce in health facilities .
(a) Limited health education and training on the provision of NCD care,
(b) limited availability of diagnostic equipment and medication,
(c) High workload on health personnel
(d) Inadequate health workforce in health facilities .
The Accelerating Hypertension HIV Care and Treatment (AHHCT) project was designed to address these barriers and facilitate the smooth integration of hypertension and HIV service as a key chronic care approach to improving the quality of life for people living with HIV.