[Ten years of commitment to persons living with HIV-AIDS: evaluation of the management in three ambulatory treatment centers of the French Red Cross in Africa].
The French Red Cross (FRC) has developed a strategy for the follow-up of people living with HIV-AIDS in Africa by setting-up and managing healthcare centers specialized in the management of HIV infection. Nearly one hundred and seventy thousand patients have had access to care in fifteen Ambulatory Treatment Centers (ATCs). For the ten years anniversary of the FRC's AIDS programs, we present the results of the evaluation of three ATCs in Africa. These results which show a low mortality rate in the patients on antiretroviral therapy and a very low rate of second line patients (1.5%) confirm the efficiency of the management of people living with HIV in the ATCs and generally of the AIDS programs of the FRC. However, the mortality remains high in patients who have a CD4+ cell count of less than 50/mm3 when antiretrovirals (ARVs) initiation. Services and care dispensed in the ATCs and particularly the antiretroviral therapy have demonstrated their feasibility and efficiency. In ten years, the challenge of the management of HIV has changed. Today, there is a need to integrate additional actions in the area of the supply of primary healthcare, of training and of motivation of the care providers. In addition, the follow-up/evaluation of the patient management programs remains useful to determine the impact and long-term efficacy of ARVs in resource-limited countries.
Mouala
C
C
Croix-Rouge française 98, rue Didot 75014 Paris, France.
Madec
Y
Y
Adam
G
G
Courpotin
C
C
Fikouma
V
V
Gentilini
M
M
Ould Mohamedoune
A
A
Nzounza
P
P
Schaer
E
E
Simon
B
B
Mattei
J-F
JF
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012011:Red Cross; D013997:Time Factors
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents