Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS (PCH)

Women and youth are at the centre of HIV/AIDS epidemic being the most vulnerable and mostly affected. Very few of them posses the capacity to take positive sexual decisions to protect themselves and others. Integrating leadership skills with comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention education is essential for developing responsible sexual behaviour and HIV free future generation

1. HIV Testing Services

People access HIV treatment, care and prevention through the gateway of HIV testing and services. It is currently estimated globally that about half of the people living with HIV do not know their HIV status. The people who do know often test late, and poor linkages from HIV testing and service to care – including failure to assess rapidly for ART eligibility – mean that many people start treatment when they are already significantly immunocompromised, resulting in poor health outcomes and ongoing HIV transmission. SoLife aim to ensure that people can exercise their right to know their HIV status, and that people with HIV can benefit from increased access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. At the same time, people who want to learn their HIV status should have better access to voluntary counseling and testing in a variety of venues.

2. Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission

Approximately one-third of children born to mothers who are living with HIV will acquire HIV infection in the absence of preventive measures.treatment with a combination of HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) can prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and protect your health. The treatment is most effective for preventing HIV transmission to babies when started as early as possible during pregnancy. However, there are still great benefits to beginning treatment even during labor or shortly after the baby are born. SoLife strategies for realizing the goals of PMTCT are based on a four pronged approach. These are primary prevention of HIV infection in women of reproductive age, prevention of unintended pregnancy in HIV – positive women, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and treatment, care and support services for HIV – infected mothers, their infants and family .

3. Sexually Transmitted Infection Management and Control

In view of the epidemic of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and blood borne infections sweeping the globe, SoLife recognizes the need for intense and ongoing public and professional education. SoLife goals for this educational outreach are to: increase awareness of these infections, encourage effective prevention; enable proper diagnosis; ensure proper treatment; and follow public health protocols for prompt reporting and outbreak investigation. SoLife aim to achieve these using strategies that include: (i) targeting and outreach to populations at greatest risk; (ii) promoting and providing condoms and other means of prevention; (iii) linkage to effective clinical interventions; (iv) an enabling environment

4. Treatment care and Support for PLHIV

Providing targeted, effective HIV treatment, care, and support is a global priority, but questions about the best way to do this remain unanswered. Many patients do not receive the recommended standard of care because health systems are not equipped to provide it, or because stigma and discrimination or the cost of care prevents individuals from seeking it. The care, support and treatment needs of HIV positive people vary with the stage of the infection. SoLife aim to ensure Access to prompt diagnosis and treatment of OIs ensures that PLHAs live longer and have a better quality of life.
SoLife is also identifying populations most in need of services, determining which services are most useful, and developing cost-effective means to ensure that these services reach those who need them.

5. Palliative care, Community Home-Based care

The focus of home-based palliative care has changed from a simple caring role to more complex care, often involving advanced skills. The level of responsibility of a family caregiver depends on the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient and the dynamics of the relationship between caregiver and patient. SoLife provide all of the following: