Tirisanong care and treatment in Soweto

Tirisanong –meaning, (“working together”) is a recent initiative of PHRU working with the Gauteng Department of Health in their Comprehensive HIV Care Management and Treatment (CCMT) program in the Soweto healthcare facilities. The program receives funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief PEPFAR) through USAID.

Aim:

The aim of this PHRU’s Tirisanong project is to support the Soweto-based government healthcare facilities with the management of HIV-infected individuals at the request of the Gauteng Department of Health). The program provides appropriate treatment, care and support to HIV-infected patients by strengthening and expanding the Comprehensive Care Management and Treatment (CCMT) services and in facilitating the down-referral of clients across the Soweto CCMT sites.

Objectives

The objectives are to support:

• Referral of stable HIV-infected patients to the Soweto community healthcare centers and clinics.
• Integration of community healthcare workers into primary healthcare services.
• Programs that promote efficient communication between patients, staff and community workers
• Adherence support programs to HIV-infected individuals
• Programs that promote staff and community healthcare workers training
• Gauteng department of health (DOH) with human resources, equipment and technical expertise
• Services offered to HIV-infected pregnant women and to prioritize PMTCT programs