In-reach

Our in-reach program was established in 2007 as an intervention strategy for our most challenging patients with difficult home situations and persistently inadequate adherence despite intensive adherence counseling.

The in-reach team typically includes a nurse and a social worker who visit patients' homes to meet the family and assess the home environment. The goal is simple: to ensure that children and caregivers have all the support needed not only at clinic level but at family and community level.

The Team carries out home visits every Monday to Thursday. Working with caregivers in the relaxed familiar home environment encourages open expression of existing child and family needs. With such home visits, we have been able to help clients disclose to their families and thereby ensure that other family members are able to support caregivers as well as provide HIV Counseling and Testing to eligible members of the family. Education about medication is also done during the home visit, with an emphasis on adhering to ARVs as well as other components of the medical care plan such as keeping appointments and maintaining proper hygiene for the children.

Family members are also encouraged to attend structured Adherence Counseling Sessions, which are conducted at the COE daily, Monday to Friday. To date, we have seen progress among the children and families we have visited, both in terms of adherence to therapy and in their general care.