By: Liz Squire, Communications Advisor, USAID Office of HIV/AIDS


Public health systems are often overburdened with providing affordable, high-quality health services. For patients, this can mean longer wait times in uncomfortable settings and impersonal care. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges, and for patients seeking HIV services, stigma and discrimination are additional barriers to receiving care.

“We know that when patients seeking HIV services are faced with long wait times in uncomfortable settings, they will often skip the service they were seeking. This could mean that patients are not receiving the HIV testing or treatment they need,” said Dr. Geoffrey Barrow, Director of Health Connect Jamaica. He added that fear of their status being exposed is one reason that many people living with HIV are fearful of accessing care through public health services.

To ensure that patients seeking HIV services in Jamaica are able to receive the care they need, Health Connect Jamaica was established by the Jamaican Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (funded by PEPFAR through USAID).

Health Connect Jamaica is a private sector service provider and USAID local partner building a network of clinicians to serve patients living with HIV/AIDS, specifically low-income patients who face additional challenges to receiving care. Dr. Barrow says that prior to coming to Health Connect Jamaica, patients were often forced to choose between missing a day’s work or keeping their healthcare appointment.

Through Health Connect Jamaica, patients have more options for where and when they receive care. They can speak with their provider outside of working hours and experience shorter wait times because there are more clinicians available. Clinicians can also spend more time with clients during visits, and are able to provide more tailored care. Another benefit that Health Connect Jamaica provides to patients is its online appointment system, which helps clients assess their health needs and suggests which health services they should receive. The appointment system can also book the services for the patient and will send automatic text message reminders in advance of the appointment.

“At Health Connect Jamaica we go above and beyond for our patients,” said Dale Allen, Case Manager with Health Connect Jamaica. “We visit our clients in their homes if they can’t travel to their appointments and we will pick up their medicines for them if needed.” These are just a few of the ways that Health Connect Jamaica aims to meet clients where they are.

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A text message from a Health Connect Jamaica client.

A text message from a Health Connect Jamaica client.

Credit: Health Connect Jamaica

 

In one instance, a client of Health Connect Jamaica, Sandra*, stopped coming to her regular appointments to receive her HIV medication and as a result her viral load (how much HIV was in her body) was very high. Staff at Health Connect Jamaica reached out to Sandra and met with her at her home. After receiving motivational counseling during the home-visit, and being connected with a psychologist, Sandra is now taking her HIV medication and her viral load is suppressed.

Since Health Connect Jamaica’s launch in July 2020, over 400 clients have been tested for HIV and 41 of those patients tested were newly diagnosed; they are now accessing life-saving HIV treatment and care. Additionally, over 600 people living with HIV have been connected to treatment through Health Connect Jamaica and eighty-five percent of Health Connect Jamaica clients living with HIV are virally suppressed, meaning that the virus can no longer be transmitted.

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Jason Fraser (l), USAID Country Representative, presents The Spotlight Award to Dr. Geoffrey Barrow (r), Director Health Connect Jamaica, during the 2021 USAID Stakeholder Appreciation & Recognition Awards.

Jason Fraser (l), USAID Country Representative, presents The Spotlight Award to Dr. Geoffrey Barrow (r), Director Health Connect Jamaica, during the 2021 USAID Stakeholder Appreciation & Recognition Awards.

Credit: Dr. Geoffrey Barrow

 

As of September 2022, Health Connect Jamaica also provides COVID-19 services, in addition to HIV services, on behalf of the Jamaican Ministry of Health and Wellness.

"With the successful rollout of HIV services through Health Connect Jamaica, we proved that private sector health services can effectively support the Ministry's national HIV epidemic control efforts and we look forward to expanding to other services”

Achieving sustained HIV epidemic control will not be possible without ensuring that patients are able to access and adhere to HIV treatment. Health Connect Jamaica’s person-centered model demonstrates how removing barriers to continuous HIV care and maximizing convenience for patients results in improved outcomes. Innovative public-private partnerships like Health Connect Jamaica are critical for protecting the gains made in the fight against HIV and our continued progress.

*Names have been changed to protect patient’s privacy