As the pendulum on HIV/AIDS interventions swings between prevention and treatment, it is often care that is lost. Yet care is a critical element of a truly comprehensive approach to fighting HIV/AIDS.
As defined within PEPFAR, there are three key dimensions to care: care for orphans and vulnerable children; care and support (other than antiretroviral treatment) for people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS; and HIV counseling and testing (which has been counted as Care during the first phase of PEPFAR, but will be counted as part of Prevention for future years). Despite significant progress by PEPFAR in all three areas, much more needs to be done.
Recognizing the central importance of preserving families, PEPFAR focuses on strengthening the capacity of families to protect and care for orphans and vulnerable children by prolonging the lives of parents and caregivers.
PEPFAR also provides "care and support," which refers to the wide range of services other than antiretroviral treatment offered to people living with HIV/AIDS and other affected persons, such as family members. Care and support comprises five categories of services: clinical (including prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections and AIDS-related malignancies, and pain and symptom management), psychological, social, spiritual, and preventive services.
In addition, knowing one's status provides a gateway for critical prevention, treatment, and care. Millions of people must be tested in order for PEPFAR to meet its ambitious prevention, treatment and care goals. PEPFAR programs have worked to ensure that counseling and testing is targeted to those at increased risk of HIV infection such as tuberculosis patients and women seeking services to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother-to-child.
PEPFAR Five-Year Goal:
Progress Achieved through September 30, 2008:
Allocation of Resources in FY2008:
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