Integrated Prevention Demonstration
September 2008 saw the launch of Vestergaard Frandsen’s pioneering public health campaign called the Integrated Prevention Demonstration (IPD), which combined diarrhoea, malaria, and HIV/AIDS disease control interventions. This pilot project took place within the Lurambi division of Kakamega central district, in the Western Province of Kenya.
Men, women, and young people of reproductive age 15-49 years came out in tens of thousands to participate in the week-long HIV counseling and testing campaign. As encouragement for their participation, local residents received a lifesaving CarePack™ containing PermaNet® long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), LifeStraw® water purifiers, condoms and educational materials for the prevention of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, and sexually transmitted diseases, respectively.
“The IPD campaign was a monumental achievement. Never before have people lined up by the tens of thousands to take a voluntary HIV test and counseling,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO of Vestergaard Frandsen and the developer of the IPD concept.
All services were provided free of charge by Vestergaard Frandsen at 30 community-based delivery sites open September 16-22, 2008. By conducting HIV testing and counseling on 48,000 people, the campaign demonstrated that it is possible for Kenya to reach its national goal of having 80% of adults know their HIV status.
During the campaign, 18,000 men between ages 15-49, a previously hard to reach group, were tested for HIV. The Kenyan Ministry of Health will provide all people who tested positive with follow-up medical care and counseling at a Vestergaard Frandsen-sponsored health centre. This approach marks a profound increase in the speed and number of participants in an HIV testing campaign.
“For the first time, a campaign provided a care package of multiple health interventions as encouragement for voluntary HIV counseling and testing. By offering a lifesaving CarePack™ benefiting both HIV positives and negatives, we have enabled a significant majority of the population to know their HIV status, while protecting them from three of the largest killers in Kenya: malaria, diarrhoea and HIV,” added Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen. “Lessons learned from this campaign will contribute to Kenya’s national scale-up plan for HIV counseling and testing, and the Millennium Development Goals. The IPD campaign was designed to be replicated, and therefore holds the potential to reduce suffering and save lives far beyond the borders of Kenya.”
For more information on the IPD campaign, please visit www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/ipd.htm
Results Show the IPD to Be a Feasible and Acceptable Approach to Fight Stigma and Multiple Diseases
The IPD reached 48,000 individuals, including some 41,000 living within the target age range of 15-49 years, making Lurambi perhaps the first area of rural Africa to meet the international targets for HIV testing. Some 2,016 people tested positive for HIV, out of which 1,834 people were within the sexually reproductive 15- to 49-year-old age group. Among those tested, 3% of males and 7% of females were HIV-positive.
Feasibility studies indicate that IPD is a scalable and replicable approach, which can be used to reach more than 80% of the population, including adult males, who have been a difficult group to reach in delivering any health service. During the IPD, as the campaign gained momentum, more and more adult men showed up – 18,000 men in total – adding significantly to IPD’s achievement.
An analysis of the uptake of interventions highlights high usage of bed nets and water purifiers. A survey of residents taken two months after the campaign showed near-universal bed-net coverage, with over 95% of households reporting that they owned a bed net and over 85% claiming to be sleeping under one. Before the IPD campaign, fewer than 5% of households in Lurambi had a water filter. Post-campaign, nearly 75% of the households had one, and of this group, 75% reported using the filter. Before the campaign, only half thought their water was safe for drinking. This rose to 95% among those using the water purifiers.
Vestergaard Frandsen celebrates its 50th Anniversary by Embracing Humanitarian Entrepreneurship
The Integrated Prevention Demonstration campaign was a unique way of celebrating Vestergaard Frandsen’s 50th anniversary in a socially responsible manner. Nearly 150 passionate employees traveled from all across the world to a common place with a common objective - to help save lives of vulnerable people and prevent the transmission of malaria, HIV, and diarrhoeal disease.
One action-packed week saw virtually all Vestergaard Frandsen employees exhibiting their dedication to humanitarian responsibility. Their passion surfaced during all operational aspects of the campaign, from social mobilization to giving product demonstrations to distributing the lifesaving CarePack™. The campaign faced logistical challenges, but they were met with characteristic resiliency by all staff. Whether it was the torrential rains damaging the temporary tents or vehicles submerging in the muddy roads, the dedicated team pushed their way through to quickly adapt to the chaotic situations.
Of the 48,000 people tested for HIV, 2,016 were identified as HIV-positive. Knowing that each of those tested received a lifesaving CarePack™ of disease-prevention tools, employees feel that they have contributed to saving lives that would have otherwise been claimed by opportunistic infections like malaria and diarrhoea.
The Integrated Prevention Demonstration was not just an overwhelming success for the Lurambi community; it was a life-changing experience for everyone involved. There is no doubt that the campaign will remain with Vestergaard Frandsen staff for the rest of their lives.
Adapted with permission from the Vestergaard Frandsen website, February 2009.
For more information please visit www.vestergaard-frandsen.com.