Making ward-based outreach teams an effective component of human immunodeficiency virus programmes in South Africa

The implementation of ward-based outreach teams (WBOTs), comprised of community health workers (CHWs), is one of the three interventions of the South African National Department of Health’s (NDoH) Primary Health Care (PHC) Re-engineering strategy for improving health outcomes. CHWs provide a necessary structure to contribute to successful implementation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programme in four ways: (1) prevention of HIV infection by health education, (2) linkage to care by health education and referrals, (3) adherence support and (4) identification of individuals who are failing treatment. However, CHW programme and HIV programme-specific barriers exist that need to be resolved in order to achieve maximum impact. These include a lack of stakeholder and community support for WBOTs, challenging work and operational environments, a lack of in-depth knowledge and skills, and socio-cultural barriers such as HIV-related stigma. Considering its promising structure, documentation of the WBOT contribution to healthcare overall, and the HIV programme in particular, is urgently warranted to successfully and sustainably incorporate it into the South African healthcare system.

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Changes in the incidence and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the South African medical schemes environment: 2005–2015

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine ◽

10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.1007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Floidy Wafawanaka ◽

Martha S. Lubbe ◽

Irma Kotzé ◽

Marike Cockeran

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

South African ◽

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽

The South ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽

Immunodeficiency Syndrome

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Baseline CD4 and mortality trends in the South African human immunodeficiency virus programme: Analysis of routine data

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine ◽

10.4102/sajhivmed.v20i1.963 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rivka R. Lilian ◽

Kate Rees ◽

Moyahabo Mabitsi ◽

James A. McIntyre ◽

Helen E. Struthers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

South African ◽

Routine Data ◽

The South ◽

Mortality Trends ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of The spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus-associated cancers in a South African black population: results from a case-control study, 1995-2004.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1099457.555725 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

James Goedert

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

South African ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Black Population ◽

Case Control ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

African Black ◽

Control Study

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Strengthening Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis Prevention Capacity among South African Healthcare Workers: A Mixed Methods Study of a Collaborative Occupational Health Program

Safety and Health at Work ◽

10.1016/j.shaw.2017.08.004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 172-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alexandre Liautaud ◽

Prince A. Adu ◽

Annalee Yassi ◽

Muzimkhulu Zungu ◽

Jerry M. Spiegel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Occupational Health ◽

South African ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Program ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Tuberculosis Prevention ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

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Hepatitis Viruses B and D and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections in Hemodialysis Patients in the South of Iran: Prevalence and Genotypes

Hepatitis Monthly ◽

10.5812/hepatmon.32971 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fahime Bahri ◽

Ali Kargar Kheirabad ◽

Iman Ghasemzadeh ◽

Saeed Shoja ◽

Hamed Gouklani

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Virus Infections ◽

The South ◽

Hepatitis Viruses ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

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Rapid and Successful Implementation of a COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Programme—The South African Experience

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13102050 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 2050

Author(s):

Tanya Nadia Glatt ◽

Caroline Hilton ◽

Cynthia Nyoni ◽

Avril Swarts ◽

Ronel Swanevelder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Western Cape ◽

The South ◽

South Africans ◽

African Experience ◽

Antibody Titres ◽

Investigational Therapies ◽

Set Up

Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been considered internationally as a treatment option for COVID-19. CCP refers to plasma collected from donors who have recovered from and made antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. To date, convalescent plasma has not been collected in South Africa. As other investigational therapies and vaccination were not widely accessible, there was an urgent need to implement a CCP manufacture programme to service South Africans. Methods: The South African National Blood Service and the Western Cape Blood Service implemented a CCP programme that included CCP collection, processing, testing and storage. CCP units were tested for SARS-CoV-2 Spike ELISA and neutralising antibodies and routine blood transfusion parameters. CCP units from previously pregnant females were tested for anti-HLA and anti-HNA antibodies. Results: A total of 987 CCP units were collected from 243 donors, with a median of three donations per donor. Half of the CCP units had neutralising antibody titres of >1:160. One CCP unit was positive on the TPHA serology. All CCP units tested for anti-HLA antibodies were positive. Conclusion: Within three months of the first COVID-19 diagnosis in South Africa, a fully operational CCP programme was set up across South Africa. The infrastructure and skills implemented will likely benefit South Africans in this and future pandemics.

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