Central America Regional Partnership for Sustainable HIV Epidemic Control in the Guatemalan Honduran and Salvadoran Militaries
Abstract
PSI is pleased to submit a full proposal to the DHAPP under the Funding Opportunity Announcement N00244-19-S-F002, Central America Regional Partnership for Sustainable HIV Epidemic Control in the Guatemalan, Honduran, and Salvadoran Militaries. The proposed activities build on PSI/PASMO’s experience working with militaries within these three countries and complement other current PEPFAR programs. In Guatemala, an HIV prevalence rate of 0.1% was estimated among the Guatemalan Armed Forces in a behavioral surveillance survey conducted in 2014.2 In Honduras, based on a behavioral surveillance survey conducted in 2012, the HIV prevalence rate in the Honduran Armed Forces (HAF) is estimated at 0.1%.3 While no official documentation of recent data is available on HIV prevalence among the military population in El Salvador, the Committee for the Prevention and Control of AIDS (COPRECOS) has calculated an estimated 0.06% prevalence. The primary goal of the program is to contribute to sustainable epidemic control of HIV among the military populations of the Northern Triangle of Central America. PSI/PASMO will work with the countries’ military health authorities, military HIV prevention and health services, DHAPP-supported implementing partners, other bilateral and multilateral agencies with similar objectives (i.e. Global Fund), and DHAPP to accomplish the following objectives: 1. Strengthen the capacity of military medical personnel to prevent, diagnose, link, treat, and monitor PLHIV by aligning with national and international protocols to support evidence-based solutions and ensure downstream adherence to protocols. This includes strengthening strategic information systems to monitor program outputs, outcomes, and impact. 2. Co-create sustainable strategies with military leaders to close gaps in the continuum of care, including training of staff, supporting supply chain management, strengthening quality assurance, and improving use of strategic information (through data to action [D2A] plans). Initial meetings with each military partner will guide the specific needs of each country and activities will reflect identified military-specific challenges and opportunities. Examples of barriers PSI/PASMO is aware of and will further explore with military partners include challenges in tracking military personnel who seek diagnostic or treatment services through clinics not affiliated with military health authorities; current military policies that limit testing services to incoming recruits and dismiss recruits that test positive for HIV without notification of their status or linkage to treatment; lack of sufficient funds for military HIV prevention and treatment efforts and supplies; inadequate institutional coordination with the MOHs and Global Fund; weak information systems; and gaps in training for military health staff. Illustrative Year 1 Results: In Guatemala, 200 individuals will be identified, tested, and receive their results using index testing services (HTS_Index). 200 additional individuals in each country (600 total) will be identified and tested through HIV testing services (HTS_TST). Among all individuals receiving HIV testing services, including index testing, 120 are estimated to receive positive test results. 100% of all individuals receiving positive test results (120) will be initiated on treatment (TX_NEW), in addition to an estimated 336 individuals currently receiving ART (TX_CURR).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 13, 2020
- Source ID
- N002442010007
Entities
People
- Kim Schwartz
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense