Clinical Care / Treatment & Medical Research

WE-ACTx’s initial intervention toward accessing HIV medications for Rwandan women survivors of sexual violence and genocide involved working with the grassroots women’s groups to identify their needs for access to HIV education and treatment services, providing them with technical assistance and access to medical experts to develop concrete action plans and strategies to access the HIV treatment programs being developed by the Rwandan Ministry of Health; and helping them develop, budget and implement proactive access initiatives and models of HIV care delivery in which HIV-positive women play a key role in their own care and mobilize local communities. With such support and resources, women can provide leadership and develop solutions for a successful grassroots response to AIDS.

Centreville Clinic
Our flagship clinic in Centreville houses our Collaborative Research Program (RWISA) as well as providing clinical care to our patients. The building houses WE-ACTx’s head office in Kigali. A range of primary health care and clinical services centered through the Centreville Clinic are generously supported by the MAC Global AIDS Fund, one of our earliest funders.

WE-ACTx has designed and implemented community-based HIV clinical services and primary health care programs in 3 clinics utilizing this community based nurse-practice model through partnerships with grassroots women’s organizations and the government of Rwanda. Nearly 5000 HIV+ individuals have entered care with WE-ACTx, with nearly 1300 requiring ART, and 70% requiring prophylaxis of opportunistic illness. We provide clinical care and treatment for HIV to women, children, and men, who are into care by our grassroots partners via collaborative community outreach and mobilization programs. Patients needing further care and hospitalization are referred to district hospitals and supported by WE-ACTx’s community trained nursing and other support service staff.

KCA Centre for Excellence
Icyuzuzo Clinic

Our second clinical care project, a partnership with a local NGO, supported by the Keep A Child Alive Foundation, and individuals.

Nyacyonga Centre de Santé
(Community Health Center)

Our most recent clinic project: With support from American Jewish World Service and the generosity of private donors, WE-ACTx updated this district health center on the outskirts of Kigali in 2006 and early 2007. Nyacyonga Centre de Santé (Community Health Center) is one of ~130 publicly owned facilities operated by the Government of Rwanda through its decentralized District Health system. These health centers are extremely important to the communities as the first site for community access to all needed services, including prenatal care, birthing, well-child care including vaccinations, diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses such as malaria and endemic infectious diarrhea, and HIV evaluation, care and treatment with antiretroviral (ARV) medications. WE-ACTx has partnered with the District to provide technical assistance in provision of high quality cost-effective HIV care, integrated into the community’s care. This required significant upgrading of the physical plant, such as provision of running water and electricity to all patient areas and an improved array of equipment to allow a full spectrum of high-quality services.