Sustainable HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control in the Republic of Congo Armed Forces
Abstract
Proposed efforts will promote Quality Management Systems (QMS) through which enhancements in laboratory and technical capacity will support effective management of HIV and STIs. HIV testing services (HTS) at military health facilities will be scaled up to ensure that people living with HIV (PLHIV) are appropriately referred to treatment, enrolled in ART, and retained in care. Service beneficiaries will include 4,419 military personnel, including 100 individuals identified through index testing, and 5,761 civilians, who will receive HTS and their results. The Labyrinth team will ensure clinical monitoring and support is effective for all pre-ART and ART patients across all military defense zones in ROC. The team aims to identify 505 new PLHIV, of which 90% will be enrolled, and will ensure that at least 784 HIV-positive patients remain on treatment (556 current and 228 new) and undergo viral load (VL) monitoring. Co-infections, such as tuberculosis (TB), will be identified through molecular screening and STIs through rapid serology testing. Advocacy for TB preventive therapy will be carried out through the military at the Global Fund National Coordination Committee. Additionally, the team will support the FAC in the delivery of specialized services for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV. A total of 15 PEPFAR-supported military laboratory-based testing and/or point-of-care testing sites in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, and Dolisie, within 3 hospitals and 12 infirmaries. The expected impacts of this project are: • Adoption and routine use of the Site Improvement through Monitoring System Assessment Tool in all participating FAC laboratories • Improvement of client care management in support of UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals Labyrinth will provide effective strategies to foster linkage of PLHIV to ART and to ensure treatment retention, with the aim of achieving high rates of VL suppression and preventing transmission of HIV to sexual partners.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 04, 2020
- Source ID
- N002442010002
Entities
People
- Karen Saylors
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense