HIV/AIDS Prevention and Services Support to the Burundi Defense Forces
Abstract
Consistent with DHAPP’s current priority activities, the Project will work closely with the GoB and Burundi military to reduce the number of new HIV infections and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among members of the Burundi National Defense Forces (BNDF), their families, and the surrounding civilian communities. The project team will support increased access to targeted HIV prevention services, uptake of HTS and linkages to Antiretroviral therapy (ART), offer PMTCT services, and optimize efficiencies for delivery across the 90-90-90 cascade within the military clinical services for BNDF personnel – as well as their spouses and casual sexual partners, including FSWs. The project will be guided by the COP 2018 policy and major programmatic shifts including increased active case finding and index based testing, linkages to treatment prioritizing high-burden/low-coverage areas, initiation of tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir (TLD) medication for People Living with HIC (PLHIV), infant care and treatment coverage, and VL access and increased coverage – while continuing to support existing PEPFAR sites with reduced intensity. The project will also ensure that programmatic approaches to key populations are consistent with the current epidemic, and site selection is based on proximity to key population hotspots. Finally, the program will ensure seamless integration with community level outreach services for targeted case-finding, and ensure client linkage to treatment, while building the capacity of sites to provide high-quality treatment, retention, and adherence services. The strategies outlined throughout this concept note build upon efforts to support the BNDF to aggressively identify PLHIV, link them to care, and sustain their adherence to treatment for viral suppression – in line with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals for HIV epidemic control. The project team will incorporate lessons learned from PSI’s previous collaborations with DHAPP and Burundi’s Ministry of National Defense and Veterans (MoD), while also drawing upon PSI’s wealth of experience in prevention, care, treatment, and VL performance to achieve the following objectives: • 90% of priority populations will receive tailored intervention packages; • 90% of PLHIV within the BNDF will know their HIV status; • 100% of identified PLHIV will have been successfully linked to HIV care and treatment services; and • 90% of identified PLHIV within the BNDF and surrounding civilian populations will be virally suppressed. Over the course of this three-year project, PSI will work with the BNDF to build sustainable systems, capacitating the BNDF to manage a comprehensive HIV response that encompasses both effective prevention and treatment components. This project will build the capacity of clinical and managerial BNDF personnel in counseling techniques, laboratory management and accreditation, referrals, data management, and escorting and peer support models to facilitate the identification of PLHIV and their needs, as well as to link those people to care and treatment. To ensure sustainability, PSI will continue to engage BNDF leadership in the gradual transfer of ownership of project activities by the end of the project.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 12, 2018
- Source ID
- N002441810008
Entities
People
- Marion Mcgowan