The Concept of Trio and How it Plays out in HOPE Humana 90-90-90

A tremendous effort has been done to ensure that people get tested and linked to life-long sustaining treatment but there are clients who don’t adhere to treatment. In an effort to support adherence, Humana People to People used a community based approach commonly known as a TRIO.

TRIO consists of three people, among them being a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) and two family members to support the person on treatment. TRIO members are trained to carry out daily Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) until the PLHIV is stable on treatment. It is estimated to take 6 months or more.A tremendous effort has been done to ensure that people get tested and linked to life-long sustaining treatment but there are clients who don’t adhere to treatment. In an effort to support adherence, Humana People to People used a community based approach commonly known as a TRIO. TRIO consists of three people, among them being a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) and two family members to support the person on treatment. TRIO members are trained to carry out daily Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) until the PLHIV is stable on treatment. It is estimated to take 6 months or more.

The TRIO model has proved to be key to ensure sustainability towards the effort to fight the epidemics even at a later stage when the project is no longer there in the community. The TRIO gradually graduates into Community Adherence Groups (CAGs) where community members organize and take turns to pick up the Anti Retro Viral (ARV) therapy at the health facilities and support each other in different ways. As a community based effort the HOPE Humana 90-90-90 supported the community through index testing and linked those who tested positive to health facilities.

The project closely followed those who defaulted and linked them back to treatment, followed the clients for viral load check and ensured that no client missed their scheduled appointment.Since the effort of the TRIO is geared towards the community being able to sustain itself, the project also adopted the strategy of Community Medication Refill to support clients who have proved to adhere to treatment. Through this multi-pronged approach at the heart of the community, the project attained a retention rate of 99% of link backs. The project established 826 TRIOS.