CDC/PEPFAR: Technical Assistance to India’s National AIDS Control Program

Deadline: 4 October 2016

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is seeking applications from eligible organisations for a program entitled “Technical Assistance to India’s National AIDS Control Program (NACP) for Strengthening Adult and Pediatric Anti-retroviral Treatment (ART) and Care Services Delivery Network under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)” with an aim to accelerate comprehensive care, support and treatment services to all PLHIV, and maintain emphasis on alignment of geographic and programmatic activities through support to India’s NACP.

The program will support strengthening of facilities providing care, support and treatment service delivery under NACP in prioritized areas through TA to improve treatment outcomes of PLHIV along with improving ART coverage. It also aims to expand TA and collaboration at the national, state and district level to strengthen government initiatives.

Goals

Achieving primary prevention of HIV infection through activities such as expanding confidential counseling and testing programs linked with evidence based behavioral change and building programs to reduce mother-to-child transmission;
Improving the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and related opportunistic infections by improving STI management; enhancing laboratory diagnostic capacity and the care and treatment of opportunistic infections; interventions for inter-current diseases impacting HIV infected patients including tuberculosis (TB); and initiating programs to provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART);
Strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs by expanding HIV/STI/TB surveillance programs and strengthening laboratory support for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, disease monitoring and HIV screening for blood safety;
Developing, validating and/or evaluating public health programs to inform, improve and target appropriate interventions, as related to the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB and opportunistic infections.

Funding Information

Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding: $1,000,000
Total Project Period Length: 5 year(s)

Focus Activities

Implement a woman- and girl-centered approach;
Increase impact through strategic coordination and integration;
Strengthen and leverage key multilateral organizations, global health partnerships and private sector engagement;
Encourage country ownership and invest in country-led plans;
Build sustainability through investments in health systems;
Improve metrics, monitoring and evaluation;
Promote research, development and innovation

Expected Outcomes

Short-Term Outcomes
- Increased competencies of doctors at CoEs and ART centers on HIV case management
- Increased competencies of clinical staff at CoEs, CSCs, and ART centers on the provision of facility -based HIV services according to national guidelines
- Increased competencies among HTC site and ART Center staff to adhere to SOPs for linking HIV+ individuals from diagnosis to care and treatment
- Increased linkage of HIV+ individuals to HIV care and treatment services
- Increased competencies of District Program Managers and District ICTC Supervisor in overseeing and monitoring linkages between diagnosis and care and treatment services
- Increased availability of VL data due to improved and regular documentation
- Increased quality and completeness of HIV program data at sites and at district level
Intermediate Outcomes
- Increased adherence to HIV service delivery guidelines by trained HCWs and CWs
- Improved timeliness of linkage from diagnosis to HIV care and treatment services at health facilities
- Increased ART adherence among PLHIV
- Increased retention of PLHIV in HIV care and treatment
- Increased routine utilization of VL test results to inform patient care (i.e. switching from 1st line treatment to 2nd line treatment)
- Increased use of HIV care and treatment data (including VL testing data) by clinical site staff for patient care and by district officersfor programming.