Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013

Details for Mechanism ID: 14429
Country/Region: Cameroon
Year: 2012
Main Partner: Population Services International
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: USDOD
Total Funding: $200,000

Target Population: Military personnel. Moslty young, mostly male individuals who, as a population, are more prone than the general population to engage in risky behaviors.Population is distributed throughout Cameroon at military training facilities. These centers are generally co-located with urban centers such as Yoaounde and Douala. Population size with be determined by specific through-put of military personnel through training centers which is subject to change based on a number of factors beyond our control. The estimate of the population of personnel 'reachable' through this method is 12,000 annually.Approaches undertaken, and settings: Project will encourage client-initiated (i.e. voluntary) testing. It will be conducted in military health facilities, but also as part of a mobile campaign.Number of people trained or receiving refresher training this year, including the areas in which trained. Goal to conduct 8 mobile HTC encouragement drives annually. Will be suported by 400 peer trainers who will be re-trained (refresher training) annually. Target is to reach 12,000 individuals annually.For HTC outside PMTCT and TB, describe the proportional allocation of HTC funding to each of the other technical areas and how HTC links with these other services: This mechanism focuses solely on military personnel as an 'other at-risk population'. There are direct behavioral links to CSW.

Funding for Testing: HIV Testing and Counseling (HVCT): $100,000

Target Population: military personnel, mostly young, male individuals who as a population are more prone than the general population to engage in risky behaviors. Geographically dispersed throughout the 10 regions of Cameroon, but tend to be clustered around urban centers. Based on 2005 data, the prevelance rate was 11.2%. A new survey was conducted in late FY2011 but the results are not yet known.

Approaches undertaken, and settings: Project will encourage client-initiated (i.e. voluntary) testing. It will be conducted in military health facilities, but also as part of a mobile campaign.

Targets for approach and results in the past one year. Number of people trained or receiving refresher training this year, including the areas in which trained. Goal to conduct 8 mobile HTC encouragement drives annually. Will be suported by 400 peer trainers who will be re-trained (refresher training) annually. Target is to reach 12,000 individuals annually.

For HTC outside PMTCT and TB, describe the proportional allocation of HTC funding to each of the other technical areas and how HTC links with these other services: This mechanism focuses solely on military personnel as an 'other at-risk population'. There are direct behavioral links to CSW.

The testing algorithm will be the national algorithm as this mechanism encourages testing, but does not actively fund the conduct of testing.

Activities to strengthen/ensure successful referrals and linkages, including tracking or follow-up of HIV-positive individuals not enrolling in care or treatment: mechanism encourages full testing and counselling, including remaining in clinic until results are known. The mechanism does not engage in tracking individual testees and their linkage to other services.

Activities for quality assurance of both testing and counselling: The contractor will provide periodic support and supervision of program activities. The contractor will regularly monitor activities for the number of individuals reached as well as for the qualtity of the services provided.

Promotional Activities around HTC for demand generation are the main focus of this mechanism. They will be conducted in group sessions, via pamphlets and signage, and mobile campaign.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $100,000

Target Population: Military personnel. Moslty young, mostly male individuals who, as a population, are more prone than the general population to engage in risky behaviors.

Population is distributed throughout Cameroon at military training facilities. These centers are generally co-located with urban centers such as Yoaounde and Douala. Population size with be determined by specific through-put of military personnel through training centers which is subject to change based on a number of factors beyond our control. The estimate of the population of personnel 'reachable' through this method is 12,000 annually.

Interventions include a variety of prevention messaging including partner reduction, knowing one's status, and a train-the-trainer program. These trainings will occur at military training institutions. The types of training that will be conducted include: training of trainers, training peer educators and the promotion of HIV testing and counseling.

Creating sustainability: The implementing partner has identified high-level membership of the Ministry of Defense to serve as an HIV/AIDs steering committee to help ensure high-level buy-in and enduring support from the leadership heirarchy.

Mechanisms for Quality Assurance and Supportive Supervision: Two supervisions will be conducted per year, conducted in collaboration with the MoD and NACC partners to insure that peer education and VCT activities adhere to national protocols, procedures and qualtity standards. The partner will provide periodic support and supervision of program activities, including peer education activities and VCT. The partner will regularly monitor activities for the number of individuals reached as well as for the qualtity of the services provided. One method to be used to monitor program qualtiy is to conduct mystery client surveys.

Integration / linkage to other services: This mechanism is closely linked to the DoD GVFI conducted program of which Cameroon is part of a regional program. Both mechanisms work with military personnel, prevention, and training of trainers, however their foci are slightly different.