The PRESERV project is being implemented in the Bélier, Gbêkê, Hambol, and Pôrô-Tchologo-Bagoué regions of Ivory Coast. It aims to improve access to quality health services for vulnerable populations, particularly young people, while addressing gender-specific issues.
Context
Ivory Coast has made significant progress in its national response to HIV infection, with a prevalence rate of 1.94% in 2022, compared to 2.39% in 2020. However, there are still major disparities between adults and children (0-14 years), as well as adolescents (15-19 years). In 2021, 42% of children did not know their HIV status, when 20% of adults do. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of appropriate tools for adequately caring for young people. Those responsible for supporting them have little or no preparation for managing certain situations, such as informing infected children of their positive status, accompanying these “young adults” from paediatric to adult medical services, keeping them in care, or managing their sexuality.
Description
To meet these challenges, the SAS Centre (stands for Solidarité Action Sociale) is working to:
- Provide quality HIV services by strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers and community counsellors;
- Support health authorities and NGO managers in seven health districts to help them integrate a gender-sensitive approach into the provision of HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, improving accessibility;
- Improve access to SRH services for 14,400 infected or vulnerable adolescents (affected, out of school, or not in school);
- Advocate with health authorities for the project to be scaled up.
Impact
Out of 1,000 targeted children, 95% of those monitored have achieved viral suppression. The young people under care have received support tailored to their psychosocial and SRH needs. Additionally, the care framework documents have been approved and disseminated by the National HIV Control Program.
