VIral load Triggered ART care in Lesotho.
In the VITAL model, nurses use tailored eHealth tools to support clinical decision-making and adapt care pathways to individual needs. Patients receive their viral load results directly by SMS, and those who opt in can also access additional telemedical support—such as reminders, health tips, or automated tuberculosis symptom screening via mobile phone.
The model was evaluated through a pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial to assess its impact on treatment outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Early results suggest that combining routine viral load testing with digital tools can streamline care, empower patients, and reduce unnecessary clinic visits.
By aligning service delivery with patient needs and real-time clinical data, VITAL represents a scalable approach to differentiated care in resource-limited settings.
Funding:
Swiss National Science Foundation, grant number PCEFP3_181355
Sponsor and Principal Investigator:
Differentiated Service Delivery
As the HIV epidemic evolves, so too must the models used to deliver care. VITAL (Viral load-informed ART care in Lesotho) is a differentiated service delivery model developed to improve the quality and efficiency of HIV treatment using viral load results, clinical indicators, and patient preferences.