Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment Program (WE-ACTx)

last updated Oct 5, 2011

Overview

Implementing organization: 
American Jewish World Service
Implementation Partner(s): 
Imbuto Foundation, Urunana organization, Treatment and Research in AIDS Center
Legal Status: 
Public-private partnership
Year Launched: 
2003
Stage: 
No longer active
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Government

Scale

Number of Clients Served: 
125000 women
Summary: 

Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WE-ACTx) increase women’s and children’s access to primary health care and treatment in resource-limited settings at the grassroots level. It is committed to a locally driven, collaborative model of primary health care and treatment provision—one in which high quality clinical care, psycho-social support, poverty-mitigation, capacity-building and self-advocacy are all key elements in achieving the highest possible attainment of physical and mental health for the HIV-infected/affected women and their families with whom WE-ACTx works.

Key program components: 

WE-ACTx works in partnership with the Rwandan government and its 24 partner associations to support a number of different programs in Rwanda. Programs include:

Voluntary Counseling and Testing: WE-ACTx began its VCT program in September 2005. It now has a stationary and 3 mobile VCT teams in Kigali and greater Kigali, each staffed by a 3-4 counselors and a lab technician. The program provide VCT to about 1300 people per month in a family-centered model. HIV-positive individuals are referred immediately for medical evaluation at WE-ACTx’s or partner NGO clinics for rapid entry into care. Currently 100% of children and about 90% of HIV-positive adults are in care.

HIV Care and Treatment: WE-ACTx operates two clinics in Kigali that offer comprehensive medical services, free of charge. To date, the program has served about 4000 patients. Approximately one-third of patients require ARV treatment, and 70% of patients receive prophylaxis HIV treatment. WE-ACTx is now working with the Rwandan government to help upgrade public health sites.

Family Program/Pediatric Care: KidsWE-ACTx provides a comprehensive continuum of care to HIV infected children and their families through an integrated medical and psychosocial service delivery model, informed by the partner associations. Care will begin with VCT, continue at the WE-ACTx clinical sites, and include home visits, social needs assessment, educational support groups, emotional counseling, permanency planning, and assessment and enhancement of the community understanding of families affected by HIV.

National Cervical Cancer Screening Program: WE-ACTx is collaborating with the Rwandan Women’s Medical Association, Ministry of Health and partner NGOs to develop a national cervical cancer screening program.

Program history: 

WE-ACTx was launched in the United States in the fall of 2003 by physicians, advocates and researchers with extensive frontline experience in caring and advocating for HIV-infected women. Almost immediately, WE-ACTx began to focus international attention, resources and advocacy on the current gender gap in HIV care and treatment at the grassroots level in Rwanda.In 2004 AJWS American Jewish World Service provided WE-ACTx with a grant to fund the program in collaboration with David and Lucile Packard Foundation

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