Primary Health Care Referral System Linking Community Health Programs and Health Care Facilities in Urban Ethiopia

There are three players in the referral system: clients, health care facilities, and community health workers.

Project: Ethiopia Urban Health Extension Program (USAID|UHEP)

There are three players in the referral system: clients, health care facilities, and community health workers, in this case Urban Health Extension Professionals (UHE Professionals)–who are community nurses trained by USAID/UHEP to increase access to health care.

UHE Professionals referred 4,253 clients to health facilities for anti-retroviral therapy (ART), prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), HIV testing and counseling (HTC), TB/HIV and care and support for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Interviews with health workers show improved client tracking, quality of care, task shifting, and improved communication.

Poster presented at the 2012 International AIDS Conference by Zelalem Adugna.