Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda

The Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda (TAFU) programme was Aidsfonds’ first paediatric HIV community intervention programme. It was co-created with Ugandan community-based partner organisations and engaged key stakeholders, building on community knowledge of the needs of children living with HIV. The program trained community health workers to identify children living with HIV, refer them to health facilities and follow up on them after they are enrolled in HIV care.

Based on the successes and learnings of TAFU in Uganda, Aidsfonds scaled paediatric HIV programming to four other countries between 2018-2021: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Nigeria. These five programmes, co-developed with partner organisations form the basis for the Aidsfonds Kids to Care model for community-based paediatric HIV programming.  Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda changed the way that community-based paediatric HIV services were delivered.

Time frame

2015 – 2022 

Communities

Children

Budget

€ 1,550,986

Countries

Uganda

Richard Ochen
Story

Our system enables children to adhere to treatment

Our system enables children to adhere to treatment

We have been able to deliver a system, a health care system, that brings all communities, that brings all families into a system where they're able to receive treatment, where they're able to be retained and supported in HIV/AIDS care. Says Richard Ochen of Health Need Uganda, one of the valuable partners in the Towards an AIDS free Generation in Uganda (TAFU) programme. He reflects on eight years of TAFU programme and why community leadership is so important in ensuring children living with HIV have access to the care they need. Watch his interview!

Read more about Our system enables children to adhere to treatment
Woman reading the storybook
Best practice

Community-led Interventions for an AIDS-Free Generation

Community-led Interventions for an AIDS-Free Generation

Welcome to an inspiring collection of voices, on community led interventions supported by Aidsfonds and its partners aimed at ending paediatric HIV in some of the worst affected areas in Uganda.

Read more about Community-led Interventions for an AIDS-Free Generation
David Bitira
Story

Communities continue looking after the children even when a project closes

Communities continue looking after the children even when a project closes

What we can learn from that project is that empowered communities are a resource that can make a great impact in the health and lives of children living with HIV. Says David Bitira of Community Health Alliance Uganda, one of the valuable partners in the Towards an AIDS free Generation in Uganda (TAFU) programme. He reflects on eight years of TAFU programme and why community leadership is so important in ensuring children living with HIV have access to the care they need. Watch his interview!

Read more about Communities continue looking after the children even when a project closes

Background

Around 98,000 children in Uganda under the age of 15 were living with HIV when the Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda (TAFU) programme started in 2015. 35% of children living with HIV nationally were not accessing HIV care and in some communities this figure was as high as 88.5%

Objectives
  • Improve uptake and retention of pregnant and lactating women living with HIV and exposed infants in vertical transmission prevention services
  • Increase HIV testing of children 0-14 years of age
  • Increase access to and retention in life-long care and treatment for children living with HIV
Impact

  • 23,935 household visits conducted by 1,097 trained village health teams
  • 8,373 children (0-14 years) tested for HIV
  • 2,567 children tested positive (30.6%) and enrolled in care
  • 3,285 pregnant women enrolled in antenatal care including HIV testing and access to treatment
  • 113 village savings and loans associations formed supporting 3,045 caregivers
  • 25 village savings and loans associations formed to support village health teams

A cost-effectiveness study was conducted at the end of TAFU phase 2. This concluded that the cost-effectiveness ratio for the community-based TAFU interventions is on average 10 times more cost-effective than the WHO recommended threshold. The estimated cost savings from infections averted due to the TAFU intervention was US$310,000.

A social return on investment analysis was conducted at the end of TAFU phase 3. In total TAFU phase 3 has led to the creation of circa €9.5 millions of social value. Of this €1.6 million is directly attributable to TAFU 3. Around three-quarters of the value is created through the avoidance of HIV for children of women living with HIV who take part in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme. For every €1 invested in TAFU, an estimated €3.40 is created, which represents good value for money.

About the Kids to Care Model

Kids to Care is a four-stage model that has been further developed by community-based partners in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Nigeria since 2018. The Aidsfonds Kids to Care model empowers communities to strengthen the links between communities and health facilities to find, test, treat and retain children, and pregnant and lactating mothers, living with HIV. The model is built on the following foundational principles:

  • Community-owned and community-led
  • Builds on existing community structures
  • Child and family centred
  • Builds on government frameworks and policies
  • Key stakeholders are meaningfully involved from the beginning
  • Interventions are informed by data
  • Committed to sustainability and long-term support

cover factsheetDo you want to know more results and best practices from the Towards and AIDS Free Generation in Uganda programme? Download the factsheet capturing the aim, different phases of the programme, interventions, impact and way forward of the TAFU programme

Our partners

Partner with us!

Aidsfonds is interested in working together to further strengthen community leadership, increase HIV prevention choices, and improve treatment outcomes and quality of life of people living with or exposed to HIV. We want to talk to anyone who shares our dream and wants to join us on a journey toward a world free of AIDS.

Get in touch!

Get involved
A young woman joyfully raises her arms in the air, expressing happiness and celebration.