Team PATA

PATA'S Key Achievements

"We often think that we're a drop in the ocean, but coming here (to the PATA conference) makes you realize that, as a group we are successful, and that we are achieving something. These people here are all motivated, they are the vehicle for accelerating action at a country level to make every child with HIV count. This conference creates the vision and opportunity for people to stand together. Previously, paediatric AIDS treatment has been a missing feature in the HIV treatment response." Dr Shaffiq Essajee, Chief Clinical Operations Officer and Senior Advisor in Paediatrics to the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS initiative, at the 1st PATA Conference in Cape Town, 2005.

PATA has grown from the 2005 conference in Cape Town in response to a request from front-line paediatric treatment teams for a support and communications network. PATA now has a membership consisting of treatment teams in 20 sub-saharan African countries.

• Instituting a communications network between a growing number of paediatric HIV/AIDS treatment teams through sub-Saharan Africa
• Organising the first interdisciplinary conference for treatment teams exposing treatment teams to leading thinkers in the field and giving them the opportunity to discuss best practice
• Supporting the development of a blueprint of best practice with regards to access, adherence and acumen for paediatric AIDS treatment
• Supporting treatment teams with supplies (vehicle, phones, computers etc) to improve and sustain the quality of care
• Initiating the Expert Patient Pilot Programme in June 2007 which now employs 138 expert patients in 33 clinics throughout Africa
• Initiating Kick 'n Test football events in South Africa and Ghana at which youth come together to play soccer, learn about HIV and have the opportunity to go for free HIV testing in a supportive environment
• Shaffiq Essajee, Senior Advisor in Paediatrics to the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative and member of the PATA Steering Committee, has been instrumental in designing a poster for clinics on how to be a 'Child-friendly Clinician' which will be distributed throughout the PATA network