MenStar peer coaching – Improving men’s health and preventing new HIV infections

The MenStar Programme aims to break the cycle of HIV transmission and improve treatment adherence to support viral load suppression amongst men living with HIV.

The MenStar coaching model aims to break the cycle of HIV transmission and improve treatment adherence to support viral load suppression amongst men living with HIV.

MenStar is a coaching model that works with men living with HIV (MLHIV), who are established (virally suppressed) and successful in their treatment adherence, to coach other MLHIV. MenStar is an important innovation to help Namibia achieve a sustainable epidemic control because men have lower HIV treatment retention rates than women, resulting in lower viral load suppression rates amongst men and less knowledge of HIV risk factors.
The MenStar coaches specifically target men with treatment interruption, men who are newly diagnosed HIV-positive, and men identified with low viral load suppression.

MenStar article

Coaches provide these men with enhanced support to prevent treatment interruption, promote treatment and commitment to medication, and ultimately achieve viral load suppression. Men enrolled in the MenStar model are supported until they can stand on their own and commit to taking their treatment every day.

Listen to a man supported by a MenStar coach: “I was very sick and bedridden for some months at home without taking treatment. My family failed to convince me to go to the health facility since I didn’t disclose my HIV status. I opted not to continue taking my medication after it was finished. It was painful having to deal with the illness at home until I was approached by a man who appeared very friendly and asked to speak to me in private.

Without hesitating, I opened up to the coach after he had shared his HIV journey with me. I was afraid to go to the health facility because I missed taking treatment for a long time. The coach managed to take away my fears and accompanied me to the facility where I was attended to immediately without standing in any queue. I would like to thank the MenStar Coach for the intervention he made in my life. As of now, I am able to go on my own and access care and treatment. I have also inspired a few other men who had similar fears.”

MenStar peer coaching – Improving men’s health and preventing new HIV infections

The MenStar Programme aims to break the cycle of HIV transmission and improve treatment adherence to support viral load suppression amongst men living with HIV.

The MenStar coaching model aims to break the cycle of HIV transmission and improve treatment adherence to support viral load suppression amongst men living with HIV.

MenStar is a coaching model that works with men living with HIV (MLHIV), who are established (virally suppressed) and successful in their treatment adherence, to coach other MLHIV. MenStar is an important innovation to help Namibia achieve a sustainable epidemic control because men have lower HIV treatment retention rates than women, resulting in lower viral load suppression rates amongst men and less knowledge of HIV risk factors.
The MenStar coaches specifically target men with treatment interruption, men who are newly diagnosed HIV-positive, and men identified with low viral load suppression.

MenStar article

Coaches provide these men with enhanced support to prevent treatment interruption, promote treatment and commitment to medication, and ultimately achieve viral load suppression. Men enrolled in the MenStar model are supported until they can stand on their own and commit to taking their treatment every day.

Listen to a man supported by a MenStar coach: “I was very sick and bedridden for some months at home without taking treatment. My family failed to convince me to go to the health facility since I didn’t disclose my HIV status. I opted not to continue taking my medication after it was finished. It was painful having to deal with the illness at home until I was approached by a man who appeared very friendly and asked to speak to me in private.

Without hesitating, I opened up to the coach after he had shared his HIV journey with me. I was afraid to go to the health facility because I missed taking treatment for a long time. The coach managed to take away my fears and accompanied me to the facility where I was attended to immediately without standing in any queue. I would like to thank the MenStar Coach for the intervention he made in my life. As of now, I am able to go on my own and access care and treatment. I have also inspired a few other men who had similar fears.”