PHC approaches to HIV control

Finally, the seminar on Primary Health Care (PHC) and MDGs, was held today. I should say thanks for everyones who has supported this event.

In addition, I  also talked in one parallel session on PHC aproaches to HIV control. Please find below the abstract of my paper.

Primary Health Care Approaches to HIV Control in Developing Countries: lessons learnt

Abstract

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is still a complex and incurable disease that can destroy the society and community especially in developing countries. Primary health care (PHC) services are regarded could provide effective ways to control some communicable diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS. This paper aims to discuss PHC approaches to HIV and AIDS control in developing countries, particularly the application of its main principles and elements. Some lessons learnt were drawn from cases and examples found in peer-reviewed journal articles. The results were mainly presented and discussed into four main PHC principles.

Integration should be made within PHC elements as well as between preventive and curative approaches. The implementation of participation is shown by the role of community health workers to bridge a gap between community and health systems and the involvement of people living with HIV in providing care and treatment for HIV infected people. Inequity in HIV prevention and care could be addressed by strengthening health systems in general including mulitsectoral and intersectoral collaboration. Collaboration between health sector and other sectors could address many determinants that influence the success of HIV prevention programme. Finally, it is clear that all PHC principles were integrated with each other. The ability to combine and apply those principles appropriately would be beneficial in strengthening health care system in general.

Keywords: Developing Countries, HIV Control, PHC Principles and Elements