Enhancing Children’s HIV Outcomes

Approximately 40% of these children met the criteria for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). By early 2006, 4,000 children were on HAART, with 6% of them receiving care in Community Health Centres (CHCs). The Gauteng province had the highest number of children on HAART, with 4,000 children receiving treatment. The Gauteng province also had the lowest percentage of children receiving HAART, with 10% of those in need receiving treatment. The Eastern Cape (EC), Free State (FS), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Limpopo (LP), Mpumalanga (MP), North West (NW), and Western Cape (WC) provinces had varying percentages of children receiving HAART, ranging from 15% to 35%. The national average was 25%. The ECHO team was launched in 2005 to scale up Paediatric ART services, create a sustainable Paediatric HIV service, and improve quality of care. The team's primary aim was to improve the quality of care for children with HIV. To achieve this, the ECHO team implemented a multidisciplinary clinical support team model, which included nurse clinicians, doctors, and doctors' colleagues. By the end of May 2007, eight nurse clinicians had been recruited and trained at the Harriet Shezi Clinic and Coronation Hospital. The nurse clinicians received clinical mentoring from doctors and colleagues, participated in case presentations, ward rounds, and a 2-week HIV course. They also received training on the Minimum level of care, which included basic knowledge of Paediatric HIV, identification of adverse events, and demonstrated confidence in their abilities. The nurse clinicians were also trained to refer patients properly and be aware of their own limitations and site-specific requirements.