The challenges faced by church health institutions in addressing HIV and AIDS include limited access to second and third line treatments as well as ARVs for children. The lack of the diagnostics required to start and monitor people on treatment is another challenge.  Addressing these issues is the major focus of EPN’s activities.

EPN seeks to contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal 6 (MDG 6) on combating HIV and AIDS by supporting the church health institutions to strengthen their pharmaceutical services, improve their knowledge on Anti Retroviral Therapy and to get involved in advocacy work. In carrying out its interventions EPN will seek to provide fora, where these do not exist, for CHIs and other players in HIV and AIDS care and treatment to meet and share information.

Church leaders are essential to changing attitudes, behaviour and practices that promote the negative trends of HIV and AIDS in the society. EPN in collaboration with its partners will work to engage church leaders as advocates for greater access to HIV and AIDS treatment.

The goal of the programme is to promote greater understanding and involvement of churches and church institutions in HIV and AIDS care and treatment.

EPN seeks to achieve this goal through: 

• Building the capacity of church health institutions to address pharmaceutical gaps in HIV and AIDS care and treatment.
• Building the capacity of church leaders as key advocates for availability and access to HIV and AIDS diagnostics, care and treatment services.
• Using available church leaders' forums to propagate the messages on HIV and AIDS diagnostics and treatment options.
• Highlighting and responding to emerging issues in HIV and AIDS care and treatment.
• Building capacity for mainstreaming the management of relevant HIV related commodities within the broader pharmaceutical service.

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Resources

•  HIV Treatment literacy workshop report PDF (284.18 kB)
•  Heads of African Churches survey form in PDF  (106.22 kB) or Word (192.5 kB)
•  Heads of African Churches survey results (PDF) (51.23 kB)
•  EPN AIDS Treatment Project Toolkit (126.56 kB)
•  Guided desk review (electronic form) (59.5 kB)
•  Priority informant interview (electronic form) (52 kB)
•  Open ended interview (electronic form) (59.5 kB)
• More resources in the EPN online resource centre

Projects and activities

• HIV and AIDS Treatment Literacy Guide
• HIV and AIDS treatment literacy workshops
• Starting point analysis research
• June 2004: AACC HIV and AIDS summit research
• International AIDS conference

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