Success story 1
Arada DIC story of HRM linkage
The MULU KP project has carried out various activities such BCC, HIV testing, care and treatments, and condom distribution for certain project targets. The targets are female sex workers (FSW), adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and high risk men (HRM).
Among those targets HRM clients who have tested positive for HIV are subsequently linked to other health facilities for care and treatment. The main service DIC provides for priority population (PP) clients is the thorough facilitation of these patient-to-hospital connections.
The linkage process for HRM clients is extensive and involves several anthropological factors. Difficulties surrounding the treatment of HRM clients tend to involve their mobility and their inability to provide a permanent address. Being victims of the societal stigma of a HIV positive status, many of these clients are impatient with the disbursement of health services. Clients fear breach of provider confidentiality and express an urge to leave the health centers before they’re spotted receiving treatment.
Because of these societal influences several patients refrain from pursuing consistent treatment. Problems related to fear or stigma can exist on both ends, however. Providers within certain facilities sometimes express fear of delivering feedback to these mobile patients. This is why DIC, formerly unable to serve HRM individuals, took the responsibility of connecting clients with a combatable facility seriously and with thorough intent.
To solve the problems mentioned above related to HRM linkage, PSI took an initiative to start the HRM linkage at DIC as a pilot program in Arada. The program, launched in December 2024, linked hesitant clients to combatable health facilities for easy access to treatment and follow up at DIC. The program also enhanced efficiency- patients no longer had to wait long periods for treatment through linkage. Having observed the positive results of expanding the services of one DIC location, we hope to similarly enhance the reach and capabilities of our other locations.
Successes story 2
FSW client story
As a teen 29-year-old Husania Ali left her family. Like many her age, Husania was subject to the grappling tensions of peer pressure. With such influences she quit school, hid herself from her family and entered the commercial sex industry.
During her life on the streets, she started chewing khat (a recreational stimulant), smoking cigarettes and using hashish (a form of marijuana). The substances she engaged with began to control her life. And as her tolerance heightened, Husania could no longer feel alert without their influence.
One day, with the influence of her peer, Husania attended a BCC session and received testing for HIV. With help from a counselor Husania connected with DIC services and began treatment.
However, Husania still faced challenges. She was unable to stop use of khat, cigarettes and hashish at the beginning of her treatment. She could not bring herself to disclose her status to her family for a significant period of time. And sadly, three years after she began her ART treatment, she received a diagnosis for skin cancer.
But Husania persevered. She diligently attended treatment in a hospital for her cancer and today she is in much better condition. Assisting with Husania’s journey was her case manager and health care provider who attentively kept track of her treatment regimen for both of her conditions.
Husania has been reunited with her family. She has disclosed her HIV status and has even become an advocate for awareness. She has dedicated her time to educating others on HIV/AIDS prevention, the benefit of care and treatment, and the harmful impact of drug use.
Similar to the case managers that provided Husania repeated counseling and consistent support, she has the potential to speak to other patients as a survivor and ally.