Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Details for Mechanism ID: 9923
Country/Region: Botswana
Year: 2012
Main Partner: John Snow, Inc
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Private Contractor
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $237,500

From March 2004 to March 2010, John Snow Inc Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI R&T) took the lead in implementing a centrally-funded injection safety project (the Making Medical Injections Safer, MMIS, Project), aimed at preventing the medical transmission of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens in healthcare settings in a number of countries, including Botswana. In April 2010 JSI R&T started a new bilateral project, the CDC Botswana Injection Safety Project (BISP, hereafter referred to as the Project), transferring the Projects core implementation to a model of transitioning to country ownership, whereby the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Division of Environment & Occupational Health (DEOH) will take the lead on implementing activities. The Projects aim is to make injection safety interventions within the MOH a critical strategy for sustaining the gains achieved over the past six years under the centrally funded approach. The primary focus for the Project during COP12 will be to decentralize, institutionalize and sustain injection safety, healthcare waste management and infection prevention and control interventions at the district level through the District Health Management Teams. The Project will assist the MOH in developing support structures, to include the National Infection Prevention and Control Policy, which will help guide the decentralization and sustainability of the Projects interventions beyond the life of the Project (currently set to end in September 2014).

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Injection Safety (HMIN): $237,500

The CDC Botswana Injection Safety Project is aimed at preventing the medical transmission of HIV and bloodborne infections (e.g. hepatitis B and C) in healthcare settings in Botswana. The Project contributes to the Botswana Partnership Framework in reducing new HIV infections. Since 2011, the project is implemented by the MOH with technical support from JSI R&T. The Project has scaled-up to all 29 health districts in the country by conducting a Training of Trainers activity that will be critical in supporting the District Infection Prevention Coordinators under the district health management team in institutionalizing the Projects interventions. The district team will be supported by the Project team under the leadership of the National Injection Safety Coordinator, based at the MOH headquarters, supported by the Project. At the core of the Projects health systems strengthening approach is the development of the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Policy. It is expected that the policy will guide the decentralization, institutionalization, sustainability and overall capacity building of the Projects interventions beyond the life of the bilateral five-year funding cycle. Equally important during this period will be the strengthening of institutional resources, such as: the training of Infection Prevention & Control Coordinators; continuous support of TOTs; the implementation of injection safety guidelines, service norms and standards; promoting the utilization and accessibility of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and hepatitis B; and the provision of hepatitis B vaccinations to healthcare workers. The project aims to train 3, 645 staff during FY 2012. The training will be conducted by district and hospital based trainers with support from MOH and JSI teams. These approaches will not only be fundamental to making safety a professional norm, but will also ensure that health services are delivered in a safe manner to the community. The project staff (EOHD and JSI R&T) will review progress towards targets every quarter and through continuous supervisory monitoring of the Projects interventions. Monitoring will be combined with technical assistance aimed at improving quality assurance and services.