Directory of HIV Services

These are services aiming to reduce the risk of HIV infection and transmission by providing information, education, testing and commodities to help (key) populations have a healthy sexual life. Get yourself informed and educated!

Information/Education

Information on HIV, STI’s and safe sex provided via flyers, folders, cards and infomercials or via informative sessions with a counselor. Education on correct condom use, risk reduction and debunking of myths.

Outreach

Outreach activities focus on bringing the information into communities, providing HIV testing and the distribution of condoms and lubricant.

Condom and lube distribution

Many organizations provide condoms and lube for free. Make sure you also get the information on how to use them correctly!

Testing

There are two types of testing sites. Sites were testing is available after referral by a general practitioner or specialist. Results are send to the requesting general practitioner or specialist who provides posttest counseling and follow up. Another type of testing sites are the VCT sites were anyone can drop in to test for free and there is also pre- and post-test counseling available which can be much of relevance when the result is positive

PrEP

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis. PrEP is an HIV prevention tool in which an HIV-negative person takes antiretroviral medication, following a daily regimen, to reduce the risk of contracting HIV.

PEP

Post-exposure Prophylaxis. PEP involves taking a short course of ARV drugs, usually for a month, after a high-risk exposure. To be most effective, PEP should be started immediately after possible exposure, waiting no more than 48-72 hours.

PMTCT

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) refers to all interventions which help prevent transmission of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to her infant during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding.

SRH/Family Planning

aims for all persons to reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. People must be able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce, and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so.

CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES

There are several types of care and support available to help you become a strong and healthy person living with HIV. You don’t have to go through this alone!

Navigation services

These services focus on navigating (key) populations through all services available for people infected or affected by HIV. Depending on the organization navigations services can be medical, social or practical.

Social Care

Services aiming to improve the financial, medical and practical wellbeing of persons

Welfare

Aid in the form of money or necessities. This is available at the Ministry of social affairs. Some NGO’s provide assistance with the request for welfare.

Housing

Aid in the form of temporal shelter or finding a home. NGO’s assist with the search for housing but do not provide housing as a service!

Job search

Aid with finding a job in order to become self-sustainable.

Nutritional Support

Aid with food packages or information about a healthy diet. This is available via the Ministry of Social Affairs and is for persons who are living with a chronic condition, such as HIV, and are not able to provide for themselves. Some NGO’s provide food packages after individual assessments

Health Insurance

Having a health insurance is important to access health services. Most NGO’s provide assistance in applying for free health insurance. One can also go directly to the Ministry of Social Affairs

Violence Response

Key populations are more often faced with various kinds of violence. NGO’s can assist with documentation, finding shelter when available, filing a complaint, press charges or counseling in house or via referral.

Legal Support

Provision of information on human rights, legal advice and/or assistance with filing complaints.

Psycho Social Support

These servicesaim to address the ongoing psychological and social needs of individuals. Psychosocial support can include mental health counseling, education, spiritual support, group support, and other such services. These services are usually provided by mental health professionals, such as psychologists, social workers, counselors, clergy, pastoral counselors, HIV nurses and persons from the community who are trained to be buddies or peer counselors

Peer Support

Support, in the form of exchange of knowledge and information and the provision of social, emotional and practical support, from persons who have knowledge from their own experiences of living with HIV.

Family counseling

Counseling for family members of people living with HIV aiming at the establishment of a support system that benefits all persons concerned.

Couples counseling

Counseling for couples of which one or both partners are living with HIV, or have a greater risk of HIV infection, aiming for sexual reproductive health in a healthy relationship.

Rehabilitation

The process of restoring and regaining physical strength and function after a life changing occurrence, injurie or infection. Rehabilitation services help people recover and function as effectively as possible.

Substance abuse counseling:

Treatment of people living with HIV who also have a chemical dependency on drugs and alcohol. Available upon referral at NGO’s but also directly at specialized organizations.

Community Safe Space

A location or space for key populations that is free from stigma and discrimination in which marginalized key populations can be themselves without fear of judgement.

Spiritual Support

Faith based support as an addition to regular support systems focusing on strengthening of persons living with HIV.

TREATMENT SERVICES

It is very important to start with treatment as soon as possible. Being adherent to your anti-retroviral therapy leads to a suppressed viral load meaning you no longer can transmit the virus to others. Live long and healthy with HIV!

ART

Anti-retroviral therapy; a combination of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that maximally suppress the HIV virus, stopping progression of HIV disease and preventing HIV transmission.

STI’s

Sexually transmitted infections; the screening and/or treatment of STI’s. This service is available at NGO’s upon referral, for free, or directly at specialized facilities.

Adherence counseling

The provision of counseling to ensure readiness for, and adherence to HIV/AIDS treatment by (non)medical personnel, for example peer counselors or health navigators. The goal is to suppress HIV in order for the virus to become undetectable and cannot be transmitted to others. The key goal of adherence counseling is to maintain durable viral suppression.

CD4/Viral Load Monitoring

This service monitors on the effectiveness of ART by measuring the count of CD4 cells and the viral load. CD4 cells are white blood cells that fight infections and which are primarily targeted by the HIV virus leading to insufficient numbers left in the body to fight infections. The viral load is the count of HIV viral particles measured per ml of blood. ART is virologically successful when there are sustained less than 200 copies of viral particles per ml of blood measured. ART is immunologically successful when the CD4 count is above the threshold for immuno competence

Pharmacy

Locations where ART is available on prescription.