Private practitioners are estimated to provide close to 40 per cent of healthcare to Kenyans.In some areas this may be higher. Access to HIV/AIDS care is one exception to this situation.This may, in part, be due to the fact that anti-retroviral therapy was expensive and beyond the reach of many Kenyans. The fact, disease is stigmatized may also lead to lack of data on numbers of clients handled in this sector. With increased access to affordable quality laboratory services and medication, the numbers will rise. Since the condition can now be treated as any other chronic illness, the stigma and anxiety associated with it will decline leading to increase in client numbers. The Gold Star Network will provide a fall-back condition for public services.

There are numerous hurdles that one faces in provision of comprehensive HIV care, availability of quality affordable care and support services and stigma. Some of the worksites that offer care and support have their own clinics/hospitals. Their medical teams have been trained on comprehensive care and anti-retrovirals availed to them at access prices.

In some instances, where the company provides care and support to employees it may not have in-house facilities, some employees choose to access services at places other than workplace clinics/hospitals due to concerns on confidentiality, stigma, etc. These service providers may not always be best qualified to provide the services. The Gold Star Network will ensure quality care at affordable prices.

Where the workplace clinics/hospitals did not have appropriate laboratory facilities bulk rates were negotiated at established and nationally recognized laboratories for CD4+/CD8+ counts and viral loads. Similar preferential prices have been negotiated for drugs for prophylaxis and treatment of opportunistic infections. These services are being made available to members of The Gold Star Network. Economies of scale will further drive down prices for these medications and laboratory services.

The Gold Star Network will also address issues around quality legal support, psycho-social support, and counselling. People who test positive for HIV can be managed by GSN members before they actually need ART. It must be emphasized that anti-retroviral therapy is no panacea - it is part of a bigger picture. The GSN members are trained in holistic comprehensive care which certainly will assist Kenyans who need these services.

Gold Star Network