Table 1 Key elements of the implementation package for integrated hypertension and HIV care.
Package component | Description |
|---|---|
Healthy lifestyle counseling | Counseling on healthy lifestyle: smoking cessation, low salt intake, regular physical exercise, healthy diet, and ART adherence by HIV Peer counselor, nurses and clinicians. |
A step-wise hypertension treatment protocol | Developed a single page, step-wise treatment protocol to guide integrated hypertension and HIV treatment. |
Trainings | Trained all the healthcare providers at the clinic on the adapted and adopted WHO HEARTS-based protocol for hypertension management. |
The trainings were delivered as part of the clinic’s schedule of continuous medical education sessions. | |
Access to hypertension medicine and blood pressure machines | Procured and provided both and hypertension medicines to patients at no cost, and ART was supplied through the national supply chain systems. |
Procured two additional Omron-M6 validated automated blood pressure machines to supplement the existing ones in the HIV clinic. | |
Team-based care and task shifting | Peer counselors/expert clients screened for hypertension and provided healthy lifestyle and drug adherence counseling. |
Nurses supplemented clinical officers and doctors to prescribe both hypertension medicine and ART for patients with no medical complaints. | |
Systems for monitoring | Developed a hypertension register and an electronic database for integrated hypertension and HIV information. |
