SSHAKTI

SSHAKTI

Introduction

The SSHAKTI – Care and Support Centre 2.0 (CSC 2.0) Program aims to enhance HIV care and support for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) by improving treatment adherence, viral suppression, and access to social entitlements. Implemented by the Development Consortium with YRGCARE, it complements India’s National AIDS Control Programme to bridge critical gaps in HIV care and achieve the goal of HIV elimination by 2030.

Background

In 2021, India revised its care and support strategies under NACP V to ensure comprehensive HIV treatment, including OIs, is provided through civil society organizations. The Development Consortium (DC), supported by the YR Gaitonde Medical, Educational, and Research Foundation (YRGCARE), is implementing the Care & Support Centre 2.0 (CSC 2.0) program from April 2024 to March 2027. This initiative builds on the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) to address critical gaps in care and support for People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

Program Focus: CSC 2.0 aims to:

  • Facilitate early initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
  • Track and re-engage individuals lost to follow-up (LFU)
  • Support viral suppression
  • Connect PLHIV to essential social entitlements

Targeted groups include newly diagnosed PLHIV, pregnant and lactating women, HIV-exposed infants, and those lost to follow-up, ensuring comprehensive care throughout the HIV treatment continuum.



Goals and Objectives

Improve the survival and quality of life of PLHIV by enhancing retention, adherence, and viral suppression.

Key Objectives:  Aligned with NACP V, CSC 2.0 focuses on:

Ensuring 95% of PLHIV know their status and are on treatment

Achieving 95% viral load suppression among those on treatment

Ensuring 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV achieve viral suppression to eliminate vertical transmission.

 The Care & Support Centre complements ART centres by ensuring PLHIV stay engaged in care. Key areas include:

  • Retention in HIV Care
  • Viral Load Testing
  • Index Testing
  • Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV & Syphilis

CSC 2.0 provides essential support to ART centres, ensuring long-term retention and care continuity for PLHIV.

Implementation Strategy

Key Activities: The following activities are vital for achieving CSC 2.0’s objectives:

Activity

Description

Intensified Follow-up of Newly Initiated PLHIV on ART

Ensure adherence and prevent loss to follow-up (LFU) in the first six months of ART.

Tracking Linkage Loss from ICTC to ART Centres

Identify and link PLHIV diagnosed at ICTC but not yet enrolled in ART.

Follow-up of MIS PLHIV

Re-engage PLHIV who missed their appointments, ensuring continuous treatment.

Tracking LFU Patients

Focus on re-engaging LFU patients and supporting them through Enhanced Adherence Counselling (EAC).

Viral Load Testing Follow-up

Ensure timely viral load testing for PLHIV, including pregnant women and those on 3rd line treatment.

Family Member Follow-up for HIV Testing

Encourage HIV testing for spouses, partners, and children of PLHIV to facilitate early treatment initiation.

Proactive Follow-up of Positive Pregnant Women (PPWs) and HIV-Exposed Infants (HEIs)

Link PPWs to ART, support adherence, and ensure HEIs receive ARV and EID testing.

Follow-up of PLHIV with Co-Morbidities

Monitor PLHIV with comorbidities like TB, ensuring they remain stable on ART.

CD4 Monitoring

Follow-up for PLHIV with CD4 <200 cells/mm³ to prevent treatment failure and complications.

The Care & Support Centre 2.0 program is a strategic effort to enhance HIV care and support, ensuring that PLHIV receive the treatment, care, and social support they need to lead healthy lives. This initiative plays a vital role in achieving India’s goal of eliminating HIV and its impact by 2030.

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