Treating HIV and AIDS in Conakry, Guinea
In Guinea, only one in four people living with HIV are on life-saving antiretroviral treatment. Lack of voluntary HIV testing, estimated at only 5% from the latest study dating from 2012, hampers the necessary increase of people on ART.
MSF has been working in Guinea since 1987, providing HIV and TB services since the start of ARV treatment in 2003. Currently, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, MSF provides healthcare services to almost 11,000 HIV patients (30% of the national HIV cohort).
In the capital Conakry, MSF supports seven Ministry of Health centres across the city, in providing a free quality HIV testing, treatment, health promotion, laboratory and pharmacy services such as viral load testing and psychosocial support through lay counsellors. MSF in partnership with the Health MinistryDon provides free hospital treatment for AIDS patients in its 31-bed specialised unit at the Unité de Soins, Formation et Recherche (USFR) in Donka University Hospital. Treatment is provided for people presenting with very low CD4 counts and a host of diseases resulting from very low immunity caused by HIV, including opportunistic infections (cryptococcal meningitis, Kaposi Sarcoma etc). The center also conducts medical research and provide hands-on medical training with the University of Donka to improve the overall quality of care for the facilitation and delivery of life saving treatment of AIDS patients in Guinea.
MSF monitors and advocates towards improving Guinea’s HIV response, such as monitoring of drug stock-outs through the ‘community based observatory’, and advocates for increasing access to HIV testing and regular antiretroviral treatment. MSF’s HIV project works with local patient groups and civil society organisations to promote the empowerment and involvement of people living with HIV as key actors in the country’s fight against the disease.