Cephas Shava
MWENEZI-Medecins
Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been praised for its programme called Out of Facility
Community Art Distribution (OFCAD) which involves distributing drugs to people with
HIV within their specific areas of residence.
Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been praised for its programme called Out of Facility
Community Art Distribution (OFCAD) which involves distributing drugs to people with
HIV within their specific areas of residence.
The
programme has brought remarkable relief to the district’s remotest communities
which are far away from clinics and hospitals.
programme has brought remarkable relief to the district’s remotest communities
which are far away from clinics and hospitals.
MSF,
which is known in English as Doctors without Borders initiated OFCAD which is a
unique model by which village health workers are trained and mandated to
distribute antiretroviral (ARVs) right from their homes.
which is known in English as Doctors without Borders initiated OFCAD which is a
unique model by which village health workers are trained and mandated to
distribute antiretroviral (ARVs) right from their homes.
The
international medical humanitarian organisation, whose objective is to provide
medical assistance to communities in need, has been operating in the district
for the past three years.
international medical humanitarian organisation, whose objective is to provide
medical assistance to communities in need, has been operating in the district
for the past three years.
Since
2016, MSF has been providing treatment, care and support to various patients in
the district. The organisation introduced the OFCAD to improve access to ARVs
by people living in hard-to-reach areas.
2016, MSF has been providing treatment, care and support to various patients in
the district. The organisation introduced the OFCAD to improve access to ARVs
by people living in hard-to-reach areas.
The
organisation, which is now leaving Mwenezi district, officially handed over the
OFCAD project on November 22 to Batanai HIV and Aids Service Organisation
(Bhaso) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care at a ceremony held at Neshuro
growth point.
organisation, which is now leaving Mwenezi district, officially handed over the
OFCAD project on November 22 to Batanai HIV and Aids Service Organisation
(Bhaso) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care at a ceremony held at Neshuro
growth point.
Speaking
at the handover ceremony, MSF project coordinator, Rinako Uenishi said he was
pleased that the organisation’s programmes were patient participatory.
at the handover ceremony, MSF project coordinator, Rinako Uenishi said he was
pleased that the organisation’s programmes were patient participatory.
He
said the programme was a great success as it led to many people being registered
for anti-retroviral treatment.
said the programme was a great success as it led to many people being registered
for anti-retroviral treatment.
“We
implemented the model in hard-to-reach areas of Mwenezi district and results
show that the initiative significantly improved the ART client retention level
and it also brought drug closer to patients.
implemented the model in hard-to-reach areas of Mwenezi district and results
show that the initiative significantly improved the ART client retention level
and it also brought drug closer to patients.
“We
call upon health service providers and all other stakeholders including the
donor community to allocate resources so that the OFCAD model can be replicated
in other rural settings throughout the country in order to ease the burden of
accessing ARVs,” said Uenishi.
call upon health service providers and all other stakeholders including the
donor community to allocate resources so that the OFCAD model can be replicated
in other rural settings throughout the country in order to ease the burden of
accessing ARVs,” said Uenishi.
Nurses
from Chirindi and Mwenezi clinics who serve some of the remotest areas in the
district and the whole country praised the OFCAD programme was a relief for
many rural people.
from Chirindi and Mwenezi clinics who serve some of the remotest areas in the
district and the whole country praised the OFCAD programme was a relief for
many rural people.
They
also said they had learnt a lot form the capacity building mechanisms put in
place by MSF.
also said they had learnt a lot form the capacity building mechanisms put in
place by MSF.
Miriam
Dzimati, a Mwenezi Clinic nurse said the programme had forced a reduction of
ART defaulting rate in the area.
Dzimati, a Mwenezi Clinic nurse said the programme had forced a reduction of
ART defaulting rate in the area.
Moreblessing
Sibanda from Chovele area in Ward 17, Mwenezi West, said she was happy that
OFCAD had established convenient places for her to access medication.
Sibanda from Chovele area in Ward 17, Mwenezi West, said she was happy that
OFCAD had established convenient places for her to access medication.
“We
would travel some 70km to the nearest health facility to get our treatment
drugs and that was odious in face of the mobility due to transport costs and
flooded rivers during the rainy season.
would travel some 70km to the nearest health facility to get our treatment
drugs and that was odious in face of the mobility due to transport costs and
flooded rivers during the rainy season.
“The
setting-up of OFCAD sites means I am now travelling only about 3km to collect
my medication,” said Sibanda.
setting-up of OFCAD sites means I am now travelling only about 3km to collect
my medication,” said Sibanda.
The
OFCAD handover ceremony was attended by many people including the local
traditional leadership, village health workers, medical doctors, MSF staff, Bhaso
staff and MSF medical coordinator Dr Reinaldo Ortuno.
OFCAD handover ceremony was attended by many people including the local
traditional leadership, village health workers, medical doctors, MSF staff, Bhaso
staff and MSF medical coordinator Dr Reinaldo Ortuno.
