In a few days I will be on the road to the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. The theme of the conference is “Rights Here, Right Now,” which aims to highlight the importance of human rights in the fight against HIV/AIDS and ensure that it remains a global priority.

 

The integration of HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is an important component in that fight. An integrated approach considers SRH rights as paramount and charges providers with the responsibility of meeting all of their patients’ needs. People living with HIV/AIDS have a right to choose the timing and spacing of their pregnancies, access family planning and reproductive health services, as well as access counseling and testing services, treatment, care and support. Integrating health services ensures the rights of all individuals to access HIV and SRH services, regardless of HIV status, marital status, parity, age, etc. Integration also improves access to a variety of services because patients do not have to travel to multiple clinics taking time away from work and family responsibilities, and they do not have to make additional appointments that they may miss. Providers may also encourage patients to take advantage of available services, such as counseling and testing or family planning, which patients may not have independently requested.

 

One of the major challenges to integration is that funding still tends to be vertical, which can make integrating HIV and SRH programs and services challenging. However, this trend may be changing as policy makers and donors begin to recognize the importance of integration. Integrating services in settings where services were previously separate requires significant initial investments to update facilities and provide commodities, drugs, and other supplies. It is also necessary to train providers and health workers in the integration approach so that they can deliver high quality care and meet a variety of patient needs.

 

Opportunities for integration are growing.  There is an increasing amount of evidence to support the importance, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of integrated services. The financial and political atmosphere has also become more favorable for programs working to integrate HIV and SRH services. Changes in the policies of PEPFAR and The Global Fund have emphasized the importance of integrated services. Through the Global Health Initiative (GHI), the U.S. is pursuing a comprehensive “whole-of-government” approach to global health. A core objective of the GHI is to implement a woman- and girl-centered approach to improve health outcomes among women and girls with an emphasis on integration of services, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. 

 

As the field of integration continues to evolve, it is more important than ever for donors, policy makers, program managers, and service providers to have access to high quality and up-to-date resources. One such resource is the Resources for HIV/AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration website (www.hivandsrh.org), which makes up-to-date quality information about integration available and accessible to those working in the field. By sharing research, best practices, and high quality tools, professionals can improve the implementation of integration, as well as the policy environment and the existing body of research to support integration. Information is integral to successful integration. 

 

The Resources for HIV/AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration website is moving to a new home on the Knowledge for Health platform. New integration resources will be automatically added to the website, ensuring that visitors have access to the most relevant and current resources. Check back later this summer to see the new site at www.k4health.org/hivandsrh.

 

Cassandra Mickish is a program specialist at K4Health and manager of the Resources for HIV/AIDS & Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration website.