HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment SUpport to the South African national Defense Forces
Abstract
Population Services International (PSI), through its network member Society for Family Health (SFH)/South Africa, and in partnership with PinPoint Solution Specialists, is proposing a project to achieve HIV epidemic control among the military, their families, and surrounding communities through the rapid scale-up of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in South Africa. Strategies outlined build upon PSI/SFH’s current efforts to support the SANDF in scaling-up VMMC services to achieve 90-90-90 goals for HIV epidemic control within the South African military. The proposed project will contribute to the goal of achieving HIV epidemic control among military personnel, their families, and the civilian communities served by the SANDF in four districts, namely Ehlanzeni, Tshwane, Capricorn and Amajuba. Emphasizing capacity building so the SANDF personnel have the skills to improve and sustain long-term VMMC programs in the South African Military, the Team will work in close collaboration with SANDF, the National Department of Health (NDoH), DHAPP and relevant non-governmental organization (NGO) partners and in-country agencies to: • Increase demand and uptake of VMMC among the project’s targeted populations with a focus on males 15-34 years of age; • Improve quality and safety of VMMC services through strengthened quality assurance (QA) and monitoring systems; • Refer and link males who test HIV positive to care and treatment services; • Improve clinical and human resource capacity of military health unit personnel to provide a comprehensive package of VMMC services. PSI/SFH will strengthen the capacity of SANDF military health professionals to improve and sustain VMMC services in South Africa. While improved facilities and better trained medical professionals will increase the quality of the services provided, the military norms and practices that influence HIV behaviors will also be addressed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 16, 2016
- Source ID
- N002441610050
Entities
People
- Miriam Mhazo
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense