Monitoring viral loads - the role of CHWs

To ensure viral load suppression, it is important to draw patients’ viral loads at the recommended intervals. CHWs can help streamline this process by:

• Screening patients during triage to see if they require a viral load to be drawn
• Informing the clinician that a patient is ready for a routine viral load
• Escorting patients to and from the area where viral loads are being drawn
• Giving expert counseling on what a viral load test is, what the results mean and the schedule for them to be drawn
• Encouraging patients to remind their clinician/nurse when it is time for a scheduled viral load
• Drawing viral loads
• Giving enhanced adherence counseling at home and at the facility for patients with a high viral load