GlaxoSmithKline Initiates New HIV/AIDS Collaboration in Kenya

11-07-2005: GlaxoSmithKline announced a new $1.8 million program to improve and scale up HIV/AIDS healthcare services at 60 facilities in Kenya. The program, a collaboration with AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation), Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK), will advance healthcare delivery and strengthen access to support services in the most deeply affected communities.

This new project focuses on training healthcare professionals and integrating community support and outreach services to combat stigma and discrimination. The model involves placing a range of HIV/AIDS treatment and support services into comprehensive care clinics to help patients avoid the stigma of an HIV clinic. This three-year project, funded by GSK's Positive Action community support program, has the potential to be rolled out across Kenya and other countries.

Fewer than 10% of Kenyan people know their HIV status. Fear of stigmatization and discrimination is a significant barrier limiting the numbers of people seeking testing, diagnosis and treatment services. Despite increased funding and scale up of healthcare facilities providing HIV therapy, only 1.5 million of the 6 million people estimated to need treatment for HIV/AIDS are receiving available antiretroviral therapy. The majority of these people live in sub-Saharan Africa. Misinformation, cultural barriers and poverty are preventing millions of people from accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare services.

The program's objectives are to improve clinical practice by providing training in current clinical and laboratory practices, increase take up of Voluntary Counselling and Testing through community, outreach and awareness, increase women's uptake of Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission treatment and pediatric care services, and support treatment adherence by creating sustainable patient self-help groups.

The program will be led from AMREF's Nairobi headquarters and is expected to begin in November.