Dissecting the Role of Donors in Capacity Building for HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care and Support: A Case Study of an Antiretroviral Therapy Programme in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Donor involvement in development activities in the Global South has been questioned for failing to capacitate communities in the recipient country. Therefore, the need to establish whether the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme in Zimbabwe contributed to capacity building for HIV and AIDS support, care and treatment triggered this study. A qualitative methodology involving semi-structured interviews with purposively selected participants was adopted. As a result of the MSF programme, community-based clinics created ART support groups which facilitated easy access to medication and health-related information. Dispensing of medication and testing could also be done in these clinics, which were previously the district hospitals. These interventions reduced waiting periods and long distance travel to access HIV and AIDS care, support and treatment, thus improving the healthcare quality. Community-influenced strategies are recommended to sustain these improvements