Children Momentum and Equality Projects Peer Supporters Called to Intensify Strategies to Increase Viral Suppression
HIV Peer Supporters of the Children Momentum and Equality Projects of the CBC Health Services have been called to exercise vigilance in identifying peers who are drowning in high viral load, stigma (external and self-inflicted), fear of disclosure etc. The call was made by the Projects Coordinator, Mrs. Awa Fanny during the Peer Supporters Coordination meeting at Nkwen Baptist Hospital – Bamenda, on January 22, 2024.
The meeting was aimed at reviewing planned objectives and achievements for 2023 and planning activities and strategies for 2024. It was also geared at closing the gaps in viral load uptake and suppression as well as proposing solutions for other challenges the peer supporters have been facing on the field. While handling their challenges, the Peer Supporters were encouraged to ensure that they talk with their site supervisors/leads whenever they encounter certain challenges especially with their peers. Through this experience sharing, their leads will be able to provide appropriate recommendations and guides on daily bases for a better output.
During meeting, the peer supporters received a refresher on how to effectively implement their roles and responsibilities in the health facility, Enhanced Adherence Counseling, Sexual and Reproductive Health amongst others.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Officers for both projects while presenting the level of achievements for the year 2023, reminded the participants of the importance of proper documentation; as work done and not documented properly is same as work not done. This, they reiterated, will ensure quality reporting when work done is documented with clarity, timely and accurately.
Given that these peer supporters are adolescents, their supervisor could not let them leave without this advice: “The decisions you make as adolescents have consequences which will affect you and your family. Hence, before you take any decision, try to think about the consequences of that decision and how it will affect you and your family”.
At the end of the meeting, the participants expressed their extreme satisfaction to the refreshing nature of the various recommendations and the relieve it brought to the various challenges they were facing on the field. Some who never attended their previous workshops were so clear how enlightened they were with the refreshers offered on Enhanced Adherence Counseling, Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV Disclosure, and Stigma etc.
The Children Momentum and Equality Projects are implemented by the CBC Health Services in 17 health facilities of the North West Region. Funded by VIIV Health Care, the projects are geared at using Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV) in testing, and linking to care and treatment; retention of those already in treatment and attainment of undetectable viral load amongst adolescent boys and girls.