As access to ART increases in Ethiopia, so too has the need to bolster health system infrastructure and human resource capacity to meet the growing needs of PLWH who are now receiving treatment or soon will be.
Partners at Debre Berhan Hospital and the Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York City are strengthening Debre Berhan’s capacity to provide ART and other care and support services to the population it serves.
Specifically, partners are working to:
- Enhance medical and psychosocial care for PLWH to prevent complications and improve quality of life;
- Strengthen hospital services related to HIV/AIDS care at Debre Berhan; and
- Increase patient involvement as a way of improving quality of care.
As of June 2008, partners have conducted three professional exchanges focused on mentoring and onsite training for staff at Debre Berhan.
During the most recent exchange to Ethiopia, the Elmhurst team—which included two doctors, two nurses, and two social workers—provided one-on-one mentoring on topics such as treatment of psychosocial issues, case management, adherence, and nurses’ role in patient assessment and care. In addition, the Elmhurst partners assessed the hospital’s infection prevention program and conducted an onsite staff training that focused on strategies for improving infection control practices at Debre Berhan.
Upcoming activities include the continuation of onsite mentoring and training for Debre Berhan staff and the initiation of a pen pal project between patients at both hospitals, who will share information about their experiences living with HIV, as well as strategies for coping and staying adherent to treatment.
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