"Toward an AIDS-free Generation" - Global Health Impact Newsletter (June/July 2014)

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Toward an AIDS-free Generation

June/July 2014
(Issue 6)

Highlights

MSH Study Evaluates Impact of Option B+ for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Malawi

A new study by MSH and colleagues published in PLOS ONE offers a potentially easy and cost-effective strategy for evaluating the efficacy of Malawi’s Option B+ Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program. In 2011, the Malawian government, with support from MSH, was the first to adopt the Option B+ strategy, offering all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women antiretroviral therapy (ART) for life, regardless of clinical stage or CD4 count.

Read more >>

Pharmacy-based Information System: Improving HIV Patient Care and Adherence to Treatment in Ethiopia

Ethiopians receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), such as Dawit, are benefiting from the partnership of the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded, MSH-led Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program, with the Government of Ethiopia. Through SIAPS, MSH is working at hundreds of antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites around the country to establish and maintain an effective electronic information system at ART pharmacies to monitor patient adherence; drug resistance; access to medicines; prescribing, dispensing, and medicine use practices; and patient safety.

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Malawi: Prisoners Reducing Risk for HIV Infection Through Testing and Counseling Services

In 2012, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated a program designed to improve the quality, access, and coverage of health services related to HIV in seven districts of Malawi. The Service Delivery Quality Improvement and Health Systems Strengthening project, led by MSH, works with local stakeholders to this end, including improving HIV prevention and care at prisons in these seven districts.

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“You Are Stronger Than This Disease”: Sharing Hope in Angola for People Living with HIV

MSH and partners are working in Angola to increase women’s knowledge of HIV––transmission, prevention, and the importance of testing, counseling, and treatment. Says one community health worker: “Now more people come to test for HIV, and are comfortable being seen coming to our room for services.”

Read more >>

Profile

Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria: A Conversation with Oby Onoh

"For me, it’s about saving a generation from HIV, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing," says Obialunamma ("Oby") Onoh, associate director for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the Community-Based Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria (CUBS) project. Funded by PEPFAR through USAID and led by MSH, the CUBS Project has provided care and support to children orphaned by AIDS and vulnerable children in 11 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

Read interview >>

MSH at AIDS 2014

Join us at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) in Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25, 2014.

Video

10 Years of Partnership to Save Lives in Ethiopia

Watch video >>

More MSH News

Improving Women's Health through Universal Health Coverage: MSH and Partners Convene Meeting During UN Open Working Group

TB CARE I Project Publishes Compendium of Tools and Strategies for Effective TB Control among At-risk Populations

Dr. Zipporah Kpamor Addresses Africa Health Innovation Meeting

Last Mile, Last Patient: The Challenges of Supplying Antimalarial Medicines in Low-incidence Settings

USAID and Partners Convene to Unveil New Efforts to Save Millions of Women and Children from Preventable Deaths

A Note from
Dr. Jonathan Quick

Stepping Up the Pace on Pediatric HIV & AIDS: Treatment Is Prevention

My colleague, MSH Global Technical Lead on HIV & AIDS, Dr. Scott Kellerman, and I will be attending the 20th International AIDS Conference this month.

In a special interview, Scott discusses the global state of pediatric HIV & AIDS, including recent research from Malawi on Option B+ for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.

Read more >>

Featured Project

Ethiopia Network for HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care and Support (ENHAT-CS) Program

Led by MSH, ENHAT-CS, a five-year USAID initiative funded by PEPFAR, supports the Government of Ethiopia's scale up of providing comprehensive HIV & AIDS services that are integrated with and strengthen other key health services.

Ethiopia: Saving Lives through Religious Leaders’ Intervention for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence

Religious leaders, trained by ENHAT-CS and partners on HIV-related issues, are incorporating ART adherence messages into their spiritual teachings and referring followers to health centers for care and treatment.
Read more >>

"Abeba" [Video]

Meet Abeba, an HIV-positive mother whose life is transformed through the support of community outreach workers, trained and supported by ENHAT-CS. Watch video >>