Top on the agenda: capacity strengthening for stakeholders

Stakeholders shortly after the meeting.

Building the capacity of community stakeholders involved in addressing Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) is essential for ensuring a comprehensive and effective response at the grassroots level.

These stakeholders—including community health workers, peer supporters, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations—are often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing advanced illness.

Equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and tools to identify symptoms, provide appropriate referrals, and support treatment adherence enhances early detection and timely intervention.

Strengthened capacity also empowers communities to combat stigma, promote health literacy, and sustain long-term engagement with care. Ultimately, a well-trained and supported community network is key to reducing morbidity and mortality associated with AHD and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV.

For this reason, on June 24, 2025, the AFROCAB South Africa team was in Sedibeng District, equipping community stakeholders with the knowledge to better support people living with #HIV who have Advanced HIV Disease (AHD).

The training focused on:  

1. Understanding Advanced HIV Disease (AHD)  

2. Implementing the Stop AIDS Package of Care  

3. Applying Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) models

By building the capacity of our communities, we’re ensuring more responsive and person-centered AHD care.

The capacity strengthening meeting was made possible with support from the Unitaid-funded and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)-led THRIVE project.