May 24, 2023

ATTACH investigators visit the Uganda Ministry of Health to strengthen adolescent HIV care model

The ATTACH and Uganda Ministry of Health Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Care and Treatment teams. Credit: Irene Njuguna

This month, investigators of the Adolescent Transition to Adult Care for Adolescents Living with HIV (ATTACH) study, including Global WACh researchers Drs. Kristin Beima-Sofie, Dalton Wamalwa, Cyrus Mugo, Caren Mburu and Irene Njuguna, met the Uganda Ministry of Health’s Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Care and Treatment Team, led by Dr. Eleanor Namusoke-Magongo. During the visit, the ATTACH team interacted with peer youth leaders and learned about the Uganda Youth and Adolescent Peer Support (YAPS) Program, a model where youth can receive health education and intensive adherence counselling and support from fellow peers.

Funding for this visit was supported by a Fogarty International Center Adolescent HIV Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) travel grant. It provided an opportunity for cross-fertilization and exchange of ideas and information among implementation scientists and other stakeholders focusing on different aspects of HIV in adolescents.

The ATTACH and Uganda Ministry of Health teams are now collaborating on grant aims to scale the ATTACH intervention—the Adolescent Transition Package (ATP) comprised of disclosure and transition tools to support transition and improve health outcomes—in Uganda. Youth-friendly support and infrastructure is necessary to reduce barriers to adherence and maximize success in achieving sustained viral suppression so that youth living with HIV can thrive into adulthood.

We look forward to learning more about this new collaboration.