Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (Jul 2023)
A Model for Accelerating Access to Care and Treatment for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia: The Faith-Based Action for Scaling-Up Testing and Treatment for the Epidemic Response (FASTER) Initiative
- Daniel Oliver PhD,
- David Mabirizi MPhil,
- Marisa Hast PhD,
- Mary Grace Alwano MPH,
- Chalilwe Chungu MD,
- Alphonce Kelemani MSc,
- Chizoba Mbanefo MScPH,
- Jessica Gross MSN, MPH,
- KaeAnne Parris MPH,
- Stephanie Dowling MPH,
- Adele Clark MPH,
- Amanda Williams MPH,
- Lauren Simao MS,
- Carolyn Amole BA,
- Kanchana Suggu MA,
- Jibrin Kama MPH,
- Felton Mpasela BA,
- Leah Mtui MPH,
- Vennie Nabitaka MPH,
- Renée Saunders MSW,
- Dhelia Williamson PhD,
- Emilia D Rivadeneira MD,
- Susan Hrapcak MD,
- Sophie Nantume MPH,
- Esther Nazziwa MMed,
- Megumi Itoh MD,
- Edward Machage MMED,
- Chibuzor Onyenuobi MD,
- Gloria Munthali MD,
- Anath Rwebembera MMED,
- Mwiya Mwiya MD,
- Cordelia Katureebe MMED,
- Akudo Ikpeazu DrPH,
- Thomas Fenn MA
Affiliations
- Daniel Oliver PhD
- , Baltimore, MD, USA
- David Mabirizi MPhil
- , Baltimore, MD, USA
- Marisa Hast PhD
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- Mary Grace Alwano MPH
- , Kampala, Uganda
- Chalilwe Chungu MD
- , Lusaka, Zambia
- Alphonce Kelemani MSc
- , Dodoma, Tanzania
- Chizoba Mbanefo MScPH
- , Abuja, Nigeria
- Jessica Gross MSN, MPH
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- KaeAnne Parris MPH
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- Stephanie Dowling MPH
- , Boston, MA, USA
- Adele Clark MPH
- , Baltimore, MD, USA
- Amanda Williams MPH
- , Boston, MA, USA
- Lauren Simao MS
- , Boston, MA, USA
- Carolyn Amole BA
- , Boston, MA, USA
- Kanchana Suggu MA
- , Boston, MA, USA
- Jibrin Kama MPH
- , Abuja, Nigeria
- Felton Mpasela BA
- , Lusaka, Zambia
- Leah Mtui MPH
- , Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Vennie Nabitaka MPH
- , Kampala, Uganda
- Renée Saunders MSW
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- Dhelia Williamson PhD
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emilia D Rivadeneira MD
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- Susan Hrapcak MD
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Atlanta, GA, USA
- Sophie Nantume MPH
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DGHT, Kampala, Uganda
- Esther Nazziwa MMed
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DGHT, Kampala, Uganda
- Megumi Itoh MD
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DGHT, Lusaka, Zambia
- Edward Machage MMED
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DGHT, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Chibuzor Onyenuobi MD
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DGHT, Abuja, Nigeria
- Gloria Munthali MD
- Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia
- Anath Rwebembera MMED
- Ministry of Health/National AIDS Control Programme, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Mwiya Mwiya MD
- Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia
- Cordelia Katureebe MMED
- Ministry of Health/AIDS Control Programme, Kampala, Uganda
- Akudo Ikpeazu DrPH
- National AIDS and STI Control Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
- Thomas Fenn MA
- , Baltimore, MD, USA
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582231186701
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 22
Abstract
The number of children newly infected with HIV dropped by 50%, from 320 000 in 2010 to 160 000 in 2021. Despite progress, ongoing gaps persist in diagnosis, continuity of care, and treatment optimization. In response, the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief created the Faith-based Action for Scaling-Up Testing and Treatment for Epidemic Response (FASTER). Faith-based Action for Scaling-Up Testing and Treatment for Epidemic Response addressed gaps in countries with the highest unmet need by working with government to operationalize innovative interventions and ensure alignment with national priorities and with communities living with HIV to ensure the change was community-led. Between 2019 and 2021, FASTER's interventions were incorporated into national policies, absorbed by Ministries of Health, and taken up in subsequent awards and country operating plans. Continued effort is needed to sustain gains made during the FASTER initiative and to continue scaling evidence-based interventions to ensure that children and adolescents are not left behind in the global HIV response.
