Africa Link March 2009

Africa Link

Integrating HIV/AIDS and SRH the way to go!

 

In the past six years, there has been greater realization that one of the key strategies to reverse the spread of the virus and manage well those already infected, is to integrate HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programmes. This is so because addressing issues of HIV and AIDS in a vertical manner and in isolation from other reproductive health matters does not only produce minimum impact, but also results in a lot of missed opportunities and wastage of resources including time. This vertical approach to provision of services also means that they are funded separately and clients see a different provider for each health service. Such an approach results in wastage of resources and lack of concerted efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS and SRH problems. With over 80 percent of HIV being sexually transmitted, addressing the reproductive health needs of clients would help them access services and commodities to prevent such infections in the first place. Integration also ensures that services are provided in a cost effective, efficient, and comprehensive manner. Surely, it makes sense to integrate since reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programmes are targeting the same client who is in need of both services.

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