In the global response to the continuing HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, children and families remain a priority. In order to meet the needs of young people living with HIV, proper care and treatment facilities are critical.

With support from a special gift from Alan and Jane Batkin, ICAP was recently able to address some of the infrastructure challenges of three health facilities supporting children and families in the Nampula province of Mozambique, where ICAP has been working intensively to support efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of HIV services.

Thanks to this generous donation, ICAP was able to engage in projects to renovate and reimagine the spaces where children and adolescents living with HIV receive critical care, treatment, and support services at three of the largest health centers in Nampula Province – 25 de Septembre, 1 de Maio, and Muhala Expansão. The renovations have brought new light, space, climate control, and patient privacy to what were once cramped and chaotic waiting and consultation areas. A renowned local artist was engaged to paint bright and inspiring murals and age-appropriate toys and books for children waiting to be seen by a health professional.

One of the top challenges we face in addressing HIV is simply connecting people to services. By making the facilities more welcoming, efficient, and functional, we increase the chances that people will actually be more inclined to visit them and stick around to receive the care and treatment they need to get healthy and stay healthy.

We are deeply grateful to the Batkins for their support. Donations of the kind they made give us the opportunity to initiate projects that we see as worthwhile, based on our experience and understanding of the needs of a given community. And once we invest that money to get a project started and demonstrate its potential, it gives us a basis to multiply the effect by attracting more funding. That is a model that we hope will lead to rising health outcomes in communities where we work around the world.

Please click on this video link to see for yourself what a difference the Batkins’ gift has made in these clinics

———————-

About ICAP

A major global health organization that has been improving public health in countries around the world for nearly two decades, ICAP works to transform the health of populations through innovation, science, and global collaboration. Based at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, ICAP has projects in more than 30 countries, working side-by-side with ministries of health and local governmental, non-governmental, academic, and community partners to confront some of the world’s greatest health challenges. Through evidence-informed programs, meaningful research, tailored technical assistance, effective training and education programs, and rigorous surveillance to measure and evaluate the impact of public health interventions, ICAP aims to realize a global vision of healthy people, empowered communities, and thriving societies. Online at www.icap.columbia.edu