History:

RTC MEDICAL CENTRE was established in 2008 with the vision of creating a healthcare facility that would cater to the diverse needs of the local population, particularly those facing barriers to accessing essential medical services. Recognizing the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and the urgent need for specialized care and support, the founders of RTC MEDICAL CENTRE made a strategic decision to prioritize HIV care as a core component of its services. However, because of lack of funding, comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment has remained a pipe dream.

Besides funding and other logistical challenges, RTC MEDICAL CENTRE has continued to offer;

1.     HIV Testing and Counseling: Providing confidential HIV testing services, pre- and post-test counseling, and support for individuals undergoing HIV testing.

2.     Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): Initiating and managing ART for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including medication adherence support, monitoring of treatment response, and management of side effects.

3.     Primary Healthcare: Offering primary healthcare services, including routine medical examinations, vaccinations, treatment of opportunistic infections, and management of co-morbidities.

From its inception, RTC MEDICAL CENTRE has been guided by a set of core principles that reflect its commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care to all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status or background. These principles include:

Accessibility: Ensuring that HIV care and treatment services are accessible to all individuals, irrespective of financial constraints or geographical location.

Equity: Promoting equity in healthcare delivery by addressing disparities and ensuring that marginalized populations have access to the same level of care as others.

Empowerment: Empowering individuals living with HIV/AIDS through education, counseling, and support services, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

Community Engagement: Engaging with the community through outreach programs, advocacy efforts, and partnerships to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, reduce stigma, and promote prevention and treatment.

Collaboration: Collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen the HIV/AIDS response and maximize impact.

Creation Of The U.S. based non-profit connection with RTC Missions, Inc.

Executive Summary:

The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a significant health challenge in Africa, affecting millions of individuals. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, many communities continue to face barriers in accessing essential HIV services. A dedicated HIV screening and treatment center is crucial for addressing these challenges and improving health outcomes for those affected by HIV. Here are some key reasons highlighting the critical need for such a center:

High Prevalence and Incidence Rates: In the South Western Kenya region, HIV prevalence and incidence rates remain high, particularly among key populations such as men in polygamous marriages, sex workers, people who inject drugs, fish traders and adolescents. A dedicated center can target these populations with tailored prevention, testing, and treatment services.

Late Diagnosis and Treatment Initiation: Late diagnosis of HIV often results in delayed initiation of treatment, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and ongoing transmission within communities. A dedicated center can facilitate early diagnosis through routine testing, outreach programs, and community engagement initiatives, thereby improving treatment outcomes and reducing transmission rates.

Stigma and Discrimination: Stigma and discrimination continue to be significant barriers to HIV testing and treatment, preventing individuals from seeking care and support services. A dedicated center can provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable accessing HIV services without fear of judgment or discrimination.

Lack of Access to Comprehensive Services: Many healthcare facilities lack the resources and expertise to provide comprehensive HIV care, including testing, counseling, treatment, and support services. A dedicated center can offer a range of integrated services under one roof, ensuring continuity of care and holistic support for individuals living with HIV.

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT): Pregnant women living with HIV require specialized care to prevent vertical transmission of the virus to their infants. A dedicated center can offer PMTCT services, including antenatal screening, ART initiation, and follow-up care for both mothers and infants, thereby reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.

Main Objectives:

The objectives of establishing a dedicated HIV screening and treatment center are multifaceted and aimed at addressing the aforementioned challenges. Here are the key objectives:

1.     Early Detection and Diagnosis: Implement routine HIV testing programs to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of HIV infection among high-risk populations, including targeted outreach efforts and community-based testing initiatives.

2.     Timely Linkage to Care: Ensure prompt linkage to comprehensive HIV care and treatment services for individuals diagnosed with HIV, including timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ongoing monitoring of treatment adherence and viral suppression.

3.     Comprehensive Care and Support: Provide a range of integrated HIV services, including medical care, counseling, psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health services, prevention education, and support for adherence to treatment regimens.

4.     Community Engagement and Education: Conduct community outreach and education programs to raise awareness about HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care, addressing misconceptions, reducing stigma, and promoting positive health-seeking behaviors.

5.     Collaboration and Partnership: Forge partnerships with local health authorities, community-based organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders to enhance the reach and effectiveness of HIV services, promote resource-sharing, and strengthen the continuum of care for individuals living with HIV.

6.     Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact and effectiveness of HIV screening and treatment interventions, track key performance indicators, and inform continuous quality improvement efforts.

7.     By achieving these objectives, the HIV screening and treatment center can contribute significantly to reducing HIV transmission, improving health outcomes, and ultimately advancing towards the goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

8.     [Provide a concise overview of the proposal, including the critical need for a dedicated HIV screening and treatment center, its objectives, target population, expected outcomes, and the amount of funding required.]

Specific Objectives:

·       Establishment of a fully equipped HIV testing laboratory, expanded screening center and educational facility.

·       Create a small fleet of mobile testing and counseling vehicles to serve hundreds of villages.

·       Training of healthcare professionals in HIV counseling, testing, and treatment.

·       Development of outreach programs to engage vulnerable communities and promote HIV testing.

·       Provision of HIV treatment and care services, including ART, viral load monitoring, and opportunistic infection management.

·       Expand our Maisha Bora (meaning “Better Life” in Swahili) training of women’s empowerment through the expansion of “women’s saving & loan programs”. The model of teaching groups of women within a village to be independent from the husbands has allowed them to say NO and take more control over their bodies. This reduces the odds of men coming back from distant jobs, like mining, and bringing the HIV-AIDS virus into their family.

·       Integration of mental health and psychosocial support services for HIV-positive individuals.

·       Collaboration with local health authorities and community-based organizations to strengthen the continuum of care.

·       Establish a comprehensive HIV screening program to reach underserved populations.

·       Provide accessible and affordable HIV testing services, including rapid testing and confidential counseling.

·       Ensure timely linkage to care and treatment for individuals diagnosed with HIV.

·       Offer comprehensive HIV care, including antiretroviral therapy (ART), counseling, and support services.

·       Implement community outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness about HIV prevention and treatment.

·        

Budget:

Expansion & Upgrade of HIV Care Centre.      $250,000

Laboratory equipment                                   $55,000

Mobile Testing/Community Outreach Vans  $120,000

Staff Expansion and Training                        $210,000

Medical supplies                                         $150,000

Equipment maintenance                               $25,000

Outreach programs                                     $120,000

Monitoring and evaluation                            $40,000

TOTAL BUDGET                                           $970,000

Expected Outcomes:

Increased uptake of HIV testing among the target population.

Early detection of HIV infection and timely initiation of treatment.

Reduction in HIV-related morbidity and mortality.

Improved quality of life for people living with HIV.

Decreased HIV transmission rates within the community.

Enhanced community awareness and engagement in HIV prevention and care.

Sustainability Plan:

Extreme poverty in our county demands the continuation of this fight for the RTC Medical Centre to be a free service center. Its sustainability will largely depend on Government grants, Private donors, Cooperating sponsorships, Philanthropic Organizations and International Donors However, there is tremendous competition for funding of non-profit and mission driven organizations like RTC Missions, Inc., the U.S. based funding support for the RTC Medical Centre. When other entities, such as NGO’s and other governmental humanitarian organizations recognize the success of this program, we will be able to keep these free services rolling all year round.

U.S. Contact: David McSpadden

P.O. Box 2072

Waxahachie, Tx 75168

214-732-2456

254-722-804-983