The National AIDS Resource Center (ARC) in Addis Ababa is partnering with the National Clinician’s
Consultation Center (NCCC) at the University of
California-San Francisco to improve access to quality HIV/AIDS care and treatment in Ethiopia by providing expert consultation for healthcare providers caring for PLWH.
Increased access to ARVs in Ethiopia has generated
a need for members of the health sector workforce to rapidly increase their knowledge on HIV/AIDS care. In support of the CDC’s implementation of national IT systems, partners established FITUN Warmline, a call-in service that allows physicians throughout the country to record questions on clinical care, which will then be researched and promptly answered by ARC specialists.
Specific objectives of this partnership include:
- Strengthening the clinical consultation skills of
FITUN Warmline staff;
- Developing a strong continuous quality improvement program for the Warmline; and
- Strengthening the organizational and administrative capacity of the Warmline.
Partners have conducted training sessions to facilitate development of Warmline methodologies and expand clinical and technical expertise on HIV-related topics among staff. In addition, partners have distributed
promotional materials to healthcare facilities throughout the country.
Upcoming activities include the development of a
computer-based scheduling system, as well as manuals on consultation methodologies and global treatment strategies.
Partners are also developing specific standards for a
continuous quality improvement program. In 2009, a total of six training sessions and 10 training modules on topics such as ART, perinatal care, PMTCT, post-exposure prophylaxis, clinical pharmacy, pediatric HIV, effective clinical consultation, treatment of opportunistic infections, TB and HIV co-morbidity, and other
co-infections will be offered.
Updated June 5, 2009
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