DISCLOSURE SUPPORT GROUPS
Rwandan law requires that all children born with HIV be informed of their status by age 12. As part of our efforts to support the parents and caregivers of our pediatric patients, WE-ACTx counselors facilitate a weekly discussion group to help families navigate the challenges of disclosing this information to their children. Our support group creates a space for parents to talk through different strategies for sharing this difficult news, and to seek help in working through the tension that disclosure can introduce into family relationships. Since we began the group in 2011, the percentage of WE-ACTx youth ages 8-12 who are aware of their status has risen from 50% to >90%. It is our hope that by fostering an ongoing conversation among caregivers, and connecting them with individual counseling as needed, we can nurture a community of young people who are well-informed about their own health, and can take an active role in their self-care.
QUARTERLY PARENT MEETINGS
Quarterly meetings are held for parents of children over 12 to support them in helping their children adhere better to medications. These gatherings allow caregivers to become familiar with the WE-ACTx staff, as well as with opportunities for family-centered activities to improve their lives and the lives of their children.
