Handbook on Access to HIV/AIDS-Related Treatment : a Collection of Information, Tools and Resources for NGOs, CBOs and PLWHA Groups: Introduction: Read this first!: 2. Why was this handbook developed?

Handbook on Access to HIV/AIDS-Related Treatment : a Collection of Information, Tools and Resources for NGOs, CBOs and PLWHA Groups
(2003; 130 pages) [French]

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Acronyms
Introduction: Read this first!
	1. What is this handbook?
	2. Why was this handbook developed?
	3. How was this handbook developed?
	4. Who is this handbook for?
	5. How can this handbook be used?
	6. What is in the chapters of this handbook?
	7. What materials are needed to use this handbook?
	8. Who developed this handbook?
	9. Further sources of information
	Example of workshop schedule
Chapter 1: First questions to ask
	1.1 Care, support and treatment
		1.1.A Care and support
		1.1.B Treatment
	1.2 Linking treatment and prevention
	1.3 Access to treatment
		1.3.A Availability of treatment
		1.3.B Accessibility of treatment
	Information Sheet 1: Barriers to access to treatment
	Information Sheet 2: Factors affecting access to treatment
	1.4 Further sources of information
Chapter 2: Foundations of treatment
	2.1 The basic elements of treatment work
		2.1.A Supportive relationships for treatment work
		2.1.B Knowledge, skills and attitudes for treatment work
		2.1.C An ethical approach to treatment work
		2.1.D Information for treatment work
	2.2 How different treatments vary
	2.3 Working with others to improve access to treatment
		2.3.A Partnerships to improve access to treatment
		2.3.B Advocacy to improve access to treatment
	Treatment Information Sheet
	Treatment Assessment Sheet
	2.4 Further sources of information
Chapter 3: Putting treatment into practice
	3.1 Resources for HIV/AIDS-related treatment work
	3.2 Drugs for HIV/AIDS-related treatment
		3.2.A Managing HIV/AIDS-related drugs
		3.2.B The essential medicines concept
		3.2.C Guidelines for treatment
		3.2.D Choosing the right drugs
		3.2.E Drug names
		3.2.F Using drugs effectively
		3.2.G Fact sheet - antiretrovirals
	3.3 Sourcing and looking after good-quality drugs
		3.3.A Drug quality
		3.3.B Sources of drugs
		3.3.C Storing drugs
		3.3.D Keeping records and ordering drugs
	3.4 Providing drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS
		3.4.A Paying for HIV/AIDS-related treatment
		3.4.B Drug information
		3.4.C Dispensing drugs
		3.4.D Managing transport for HIV/AIDS-related treatment
	3.5 Training and management for treatment work
	3.6 Further sources of information
Chapter 4: Assessing needs and resources, and deciding what to do
	4.1 The assessment process
	4.2 Assessment frameworks
		4.2.A Assessing needs and resources - people living with HIV/AIDS and the community
		4.2.B Assessing needs and resources - the local environment
		4.2.C Assessing needs and resources - your NGO/CBO/PLWHA group
	4.3 Deciding what to do
		4.3.A Analysing your findings
		4.3.B Reaching a decision
		4.3.C Communicating your decision
	Information Sheet 3: Thinking creatively about what your group can do - treatment in context
	4.4 Further sources of information
Chapter 5: Learning from and improving HIV/AIDS-related treatment work
	5.1 Monitoring and evaluating HIV/AIDS-related treatment work
		5.1.A Keeping records of your work
		5.1.B Monitoring your work
		5.1.C Evaluating your work
	5.2 Changing and improving HIV/AIDS-related treatment work
		5.2.A Making the most of new resources and linkages
		5.2.B Coping with changes
		5.2.C Sharing your experiences with others
		5.2.D Scaling up, scaling down or staying the same
	5.3 Further sources of information
	Organizations that contributed to the development of this handbook
Back cover

2. Why was this handbook developed?

The experience of the Alliance, UNAIDS and WHO showed that many NGOs, CBOs and PLWHA groups already involved in HIV/AIDS care, advocacy and prevention were being challenged to do something about improving access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. Most of these groups, however, had limited experience and/or knowledge about treatment. Available resources proved difficult to adapt for small groups without medical expertise.

At the same time, the experiences of other NGOs, CBOs and PLWHA groups that were already carrying out creative and effective work on HIV/AIDS-related treatment were often not documented. This meant that they were not making full use of the lessons learned, whether to improve the quality of their own work or to help others by sharing these lessons.

As a response, the handbook that has been developed is a collection of information, tools and lessons on a range of topics related to improving access to HIV/AIDS-related treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.