Dr Eula Mothibi[1], Dr Delphin Kabamba[1], Ms Lizette Monteith[1], Dr Jackie Mangoma[1], Mr Frank Chirowa[1], Dr Muya Kanyinda[1], Mr Riyaad Ally[1], Mr Bargley Makumbe[1], Geoff Fatti[1], EQUIP Costing TWG, Dr J C Kiluba[2], Dr Cyprien Tendo-Bugondo[2], Dr Didier Kamhere[3], Dr Raphael Mwamba[3], Dr Berthe Banzua[3], Dr Samuel Mangala[3], Dr Xavier N’siesi[4], Dr Jacqueline Firth[5]
One of the major achievements for the EQUIP project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been supporting the implementation of PODI (Postes de distribution communautaire d’ARV or community ART distribution points) houses and clubs in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi since October 2016. PODIs are a community-based out-of-facility individual model, providing a point from which clients can pick up their medication.
With the support of EQUIP, PROVIC+ (now IHAP-Haut Katanga/Lualaba) established PODI Kenya in October 2016 and PODI Lubumbashi in January 2017. In Kinshasa, two PODI houses, PODI Masina II and PODI Kingasani, were set up in 2016 in collaboration with PROVIC+ (now IHAP-Kinshasa). A total of 12 PODI clubs have been implemented in Kinshasa and Haut Katanga. PODIs were created to assist with the decongestion of facilities by providing out-of-facility service points for stable clients.
As of September 2017, a total of 1,751 HIV clients were receiving 3-month ART refills from PODIs serviced by expert client volunteers. Client health facility attendance is reduced to annually (from monthly visits), and the annual attendance is for blood investigations and clinical assessment. As of September 2017, 44% of eligible clients from Kenya hospital had been moved into PODI Kenya, 46% from Hospital Kingasani into PODI Kingasani and 47% from CS Elonga Hospital into PODI Masina.
The outcomes of clients attending the PODIs have been good. Retention rates are above 92% in all the PODI houses and more than 90% of clients in the PODIs have a suppressed viral load. EQUIP plans to support the scale up of PODIs within the Kinshasa and Haut Katanga provinces, one other DRC province (Lualaba), and the Republic of Burundi.
[1] Kheth’Impilo EQUIP
[2] Integrated HIV/AIDS Planning (IHAP) Haut Katanga
[3] IHAP Kinshasa
[4] United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission DRC
[5] USAID Mission Washington
