Access to all reproductive health (antenatal care, post-natal care, delivery services, family planning), and HIV services were strengthened; there was an increased uptake of reproductive health services as well as HIV services through early case detection and referral to chronic care except for family planning. This has been due to sustained RH/HIV awareness sessions and close follow up as well as monthly meetings and home visits to PLWHAs to provide support, counselling and address challenges they face. This was also possible through linkages and integration of HIV testing into other services and a proper documentation record of the clients in the HTS register.
A total of 22,860 people attended awareness sessions among whom were community leaders, hygiene promoters, refugee council, Sheikhs, chiefs, zone/block leaders, teachers, religious leaders, youth representatives, and women leaders among and other stakeholders; 58,606 pieces of male condoms were distributed.
With funding from the Global Fund through IGAD, HIV/TB programmes were scaled up in all camps and in the two referral health facilities; as a result all refugees in the camps now have 100% access to HIV and TB services; more than 180 health workers were trained in HIV/TB; diagnostics facilities improved.
Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are established in all camps and Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) services were maintained in all camps as well. STD/HIV awareness campaign was carried out to sensitize the community on various sexually transmitted infections, testing and treatment with a focus on behaviour change. 80,746 adult persons have been sensitized on HIV prevention and VCT and a total of 16,257 women sensitized for PMCT during ANC visits. Close to 36,240 people were counselled, tested and received their HIV test results, among which 12,072 pregnant women who went through the PMCT programme.
Complete ANC coverage was 84%; proportion of live births attended by skilled health workers was 86%. 489 patients were on ART; all of whom received post-test counselling. The PMTCT coverage stood at 93%.
A formative assessment on reproductive health and HIV was conducted from which a behaviour change and communication strategy was developed. This guided the development of community messages on reproductive health and HIV so that to increase awareness and uptake of services as well as reduce the related stigma.
UNHCR with the support of implementing partners, continued to engage peer adherence support groups to share experiences and help the treatment retention rate and provide nutritional support the diet of the clients and promote drug adherence.