Protocol 1. Patient evaluation and antiretroviral treatment for adults and adolescents

HIV/AIDS is chronic lifelong disease with no known cure, and therefore, people living with HIV (PLHIV) have to be followed medically for the rest of their lives (1–3). The core component of treatment and care of PLHIV is provision of antiretroviral treatment (ART). Optimal ART increases the length and quality of life of HIV-infected patients, and reduces the onward transmission of the virus. WHO promotes a public health approach to ART (4), which promotes the rational selection and sequencing of different drug classes into first and second-line regimens with salvage options; simplified and standardised clinical management; and standardised record keeping in order to preserve therapeutic options, minimize drug toxicity and side-effects, maximize adherence and to support the goals of ART.