Document 0654
 DOCN  M9460654
 TI    Integration of AIDS program activities into national health systems.
 DT    9404
 AU    Matomora MK; Lamboray JL; Laing R; African Medical and Research
       Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.
 SO    AIDS. 1991;5 Suppl 1:S193-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94161909
 AB    In this paper we have defined integration as being the health unit team
       acceptance of responsibility for all aspects of care at the health
       service/community interface level. The health unit functions within a
       system whose elements (hospitals, laboratory, pharmacy, etc.) function
       in complementarity with those of the FLHS. Vertical approaches are often
       adopted because of weaknesses in some elements of the NHS, thereby
       further undermining such an NHS. The development of innovative
       community-based approaches in some areas and countries has resulted from
       this type of situation. However, isolated from the NHS, such approaches
       cannot be expected to be sustainable or to have long-term impact.
       Integration is the best choice of approach; it offers a chance to
       influence the course of the AIDS epidemic and the response of health
       systems in each country. The basic structure of the NHS and the
       characteristics of a FLHS are analyzed. The challenge to AIDS programs
       is to define more exactly objectives and activities at the operational,
       interface levels. Based on this analysis, planning of operations should
       be delegated to the district. Weakness of some elements and aspects of
       the NHS which are relevant to AIDS control program implementation can be
       overcome, not by organizing the program vertically and independently
       from the NHS, but rather by sharing resources to strengthen the weak
       elements. Integration may be more difficult in the early stages of
       implementation, but in the long term it offers sustainable development
       of AIDS prevention and control activities.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PREVENTION &  CONTROL
       Africa/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Human  *National Health Programs  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

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