Projects

Improving and Expanding Access to and Uptake of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Project

In 2007, IntraHealth began supporting Zambia to strengthen HIV counseling and testing services in rural and underserved districts. The HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Project targeted the Southern, Lusaka, and Western provinces—all of which had particularly high HIV rates—to expand access and use of testing and counseling services; link individuals, couples, and families to referral and follow-up services; and improve service quality. IntraHealth provided HIV testing to over 559,000 people, trained almost 400 community-based lay counselors, and demonstrated success in implementing HIV testing services for key populations.

Selected initiatives

  • Supported districts to scale up individual and couples HTC for facilities, district mobile services, and lay counselor door-to-door services
  • Strengthened existing Ministry of Health systems by offering grants to increase districts’ roles in service implementation
  • Collaborated with districts to expand service availability so that more people living with HIV receive and adhere to antiretroviral therapy
  • Promoted prevention interventions for both the general population and vulnerable groups, including alcohol and drug users, mobile populations, and those engaged in transactional sex
  • Strengthened referral and follow-up systems by developing referral maps and partners, refining referral mechanisms, and testing new approaches, including use of cell phones