Table 2 TH training curriculum, adapted from the South African Patient Advocate program [27, 28]

Day one

 1. HIV/AIDS overview

  a. Epidemiology of HIV in Uganda and HIV transmission

  b. Rationale for ART use and adherence (U = U)

 2. Ethics of working with PLWH

  a. Confidentiality and status disclosure

  b. Discrimination and stigma

 3. Overview of clinical services for PLWH

  a. Enrollment and pre-ART counseling

  b. ART initiation

  c. Treatment of other opportunistic infections

  d. Adherence support and monitoring

 4. Community resources for PLWH

  a. NGO or government offices

  b. Community support groups

  c. Advocacy groups for stigma reduction

 5. Identifying mental health symptoms

  a. Introduction to depression and anxiety

  b. Common symptoms and solutions

  c. When to refer PLWH for further management

Day two

 1. ART readiness, adherence barriers/facilitators

 2. The role of lay adherence supporters

  a. Supporting PLWH outside the clinic

  b. Lay support versus clinical care roles

  c. Lay supporter as advocate and confidante

 3. ART adherence support strategies

  a. Strengths-based counseling/self-efficacy

  b. Managing ART side effects

  c. Emphasizing goals of treatment

 4. Communication skills for counseling

 5. Strategies for healthy/positive living

  a. Nutrition, exercise, and mental health

  b. Routine healthcare and clinic visits

  c. Safer sex

 6. HIV status disclosure and social support

  a. Counseling on disclosure strategies

  b. Improving social support