Our impact

RCFN-IHVN/ACTION PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

Between 2005 and 2010 Reach Care Foundation implemented the Nigerian Seroconversion Panel also known as the REACH (Recruiting Early Acute Cases of HIV) Project, the first of its kind in Nigeria.

This project was a collaborative research with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Baltimore USA and funded by Centre for Disease Control Atlanta Georgia USA.

The project involves the collection of enough seroconversion panels (blood, saliva and processed Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells) along with a data base of informative variables as project deliverables for CDC intramural use in development and refinement of Sensitive/Less sensitive assay to measure HIV incidence in Nigeria. Our organization utilizing the facility based HCT and the Mobile/Moonlight HCT outreach strategy (i.e. HCT and collection of blood samples at night bars and clubs from cohorts that might be involved in high risk behaviors and may be acutely infected with HIV within FCT and environs). We have also collaborated with IHVN in the implementation of the ACTION project by taking the interventions to Most At Risk and Hard to Reach Populations in various states of the Federation namely; FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Yobe, Plateau, and Nassarawa states.

At the completion of the Seroconversion panel study in 2009, RCFN riding on the success, achievement and experiences gained in the seroconversion study secured a 12 month (2009-2010) funding grants from Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) to provide and implement IHVN/AIDS Care and Treatment in Nigeria (IHVN/ACTION) Project in Fiscal Year (FY) 10 with defined objectives and targets to be met by the funding organization.

RCFN was able to implement and provide comprehensive program of Prevention, treatment care and support to improve the health outcome and well-being of high risk groups such as Commercial Sex Workers (CSW), Out of School youths, Transport Workers, youths in Hausa Drama houses in FCT and surrounding areas by delivering quality prevention activities and Counselling and Testing services such as: ABC prevention through Peer Education, STI Syndromic Management, promoting Correct, Consistent Condom usage and distribution, distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials.

In 2012 Reach Care Foundation signed another sub-contract agreement with Institute of Human Virology Nigeria to implement the ACTION PLUS Up Project for fiscal Year 13 with the mandate of assessing and activating appropriate number of mobile HTC sites in Kano, Katsina states and the FCT providing quality HIV Testing and Counselling services, and ensuring an effective referrals and linkages of the positive clients GON/USG support facilities for treatment, care and support.

The implementation of the ACTION PLUS UP project by RCFN in Kano and Katsina states is being achieved by engaging stakeholders like Kano State Action Committee on AIDS (KASACA), Katsina State Action Committee on AIDS (KATSACA), Kano/Katsina regional offices of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Community Based Organizations that have experience in engaging the local chiefs and community gate-keepers in these states and signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Currently RCFN is supporting six (6) Community-Based Organizations in Kano and Katsina states and have future plans to engage more CBOs subject to funds availability. Capacity building training on mHTC and Data recording and reporting was organized for the CBOs to implement mobile HCT in this states.