IntroductionThis project is a CoAg between CDC and the KSPH which main objective is to contribute to the reduction of HIV/AIDS and STI transmission and attenuate their impact. Its specific objectives are the following:(1) achieve primary HIV prevention such as HVCT programs; (2) strengthen the capacity of the country in HIV data management; (3)strengthen HIV lab support; (4) support the development/updating of GBV protocols and training manuals for stakeholders; (5) strengthen community outreach/mobilization/referrals through the national GBV and HIV hotline(6)generate strategic information.KSPH will provide training to health professionals at the MPH level and technical assistance to National programs and institutions. The activities are mainly concentrated in USG-supported provinces (Kinshasa, Bas Congo, Katanga, Sud Kivu, Kasai Oriental and Province Orientale) and target youth, health workers, PLWHA, students, social workers, and MOH staff.To become more efficient overtime, the KSPH will use approaches based on results to reach targets in reducing the cost.KSPH will reinforce the national health system by supporting the MOH human capacity development, laboratories at the central and provincial levels, and providing technical assistance in strategic information and HIV M&E.KSPH will strengthen the health system by providing training (pre-and in-service) to DRC National Institutions/Programs staff at different levels, to local and international partners.Concerning the PMTCT AP, the KSPH will provide equipment, lab supplies, reagent, and HIV rapid test to USG CDC partners: ICAP, UNC/ESP, EGPAF and KSPH lab, and train lab technicians in HIV diagnosis and biological follow up.

During the COP12, 5 laboratories will be provided with reagents, lab supplies and maintenance services (PNLS national laboratory, Kinshasa provincial hospital, KSPH, Kalembelembe and Sendwe). In collaboraion with the BD firm, the KSPH will set up a regional training center.This center will also deal with QC&QA. In addition, the KSPH will support plans and activities that will result in sustainable accredited laboratory programs. About trainings, 1500 finalist students in medical and nurse schools (pre-service), 120 midwives and 200 lab technicians in health care institutions (in-service) will be trained. Those trainings are focused on HIV rapid testing, Malaria and Tuberculosis microscopy for students; diagnosis of HIV and opportunistic infections, STI and biological follow-up of PLWHA, Dried Blood Spot (DBS) techniques in PMTCT sites,and HIV early infant diagnosis with PCR DNA for lab technicians. Participants will be selected in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kisangani. Trainings will be organized in collaboration with the PNLS, and conducted by experts from the pool of national and local lab trainers. Supporting the Lab Task Force: Under the PNLS leadership, a lab task force gathering members from KSPH, MOH Programs and other actors involved in the HIV lab area was implemented in order to coordinate TB, HIV/AIDS and blood safety laboratory activities.According to the PMTCT acceleration plan, the KSPH will provide equipment, lab supplies, reagent, and HIV rapid test to USG CDC partners : ICAP, UNC/ESP , EGPAF and KSPH lab. The equipment to be purchased is the following: Fascount, PIMA, and Elisa chain and will permit the HIV diagnosis and the biological follow up of the HIV positive pregnant women and their infants.In addition, KSPH will train lab technicians to strengthen their capacities in HIV diagnosis and the biological follow upOutputs: 8 laboratories supported with reagent, tests and student, midwives and lab technicians trained

SURVEYSDuring COP12, KSPH will conduct two surveys on size estimation of MARPS and Biological ARV Drug resistance. The first one will be organized in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi and will mainly target sex workers, soldiers, militaries, trackers. The results will permit to update the prevalence among this group category. The second survey will concern the Biological ARV Drug resistance. The survey will target person living with HIV/AIDS, PLWHA and benefiting ARV treatment in Kinshasa.For each survey, a protocol will be elaborated and transmitted to the local ethics committee as well as Atlanta committee for approval. The data will be collected, analyzed and results diffused. REPORTING SYSTEM: the KSPH will continue to set up the operation and maintenance of the national reporting system started in COP 10 in collaboration with PNLS and a consulting firm. In COP12, the functioning of the central level and 75 health zones, funded by PEPFAR will be supported.Direct beneficiaries: decision makers, PLWHAOutput: 2 survey reports produced and disseminated.

In order to reinforce the formal trainings of health care professional in DRC, the KSPH organizes trainings in , M & E, GBV, and management of health system (MPH) M&E : with the PNMLS,KSPH developed training manuals in M&E targeting decision-makers and field workers who are conducting interventions. The KSPH will organize 5 training sessions of 30 participants, in 5 provinces. The trainings aim to reinforce the HIV reporting system. Participants will be decision-makers, data managers and M&E officers from different levels within donor community and key partner organizations. Trainings will be conducted by the national experts from the M&E training pool.MPH : in order to reinforce MOH capacity, KSPH will provide scholarships to 5 individuals for MPH degree.GBV: the KSPH proposes to reinforce the Hotline capacity to respond to information needs in relation to GBV through the following activities (1) promote the Hotline through medias ;(2) implement the methods for automatic answering of calls;(3) support the Hotline functioning.Direct beneficiaries: DRC overall populationOutput: 150 individuals trained in M&E and 5 individuals trained for MPH degree; Hotline capacities reinforced to respond to questions related to GBV.

The injection safety is one of the strategies set up to prevent HIV and other diseases contamination for health professional , patients and general population. Blood exposure accidents are frequently reported in health care Institutions although their importance is not yet measured through all the country. Thank to CDC-PEPFAR support, the KSPH and the MOH produced modules and guidelines on injection safety and biomedical waste management. Those modules are used for the healthcare providers training in Kinshasa and other provinces. For these trained individuals, different health structures where they work will be provided with appropriate and adequate materials, such as single-use syringes and needles, safety boxes,blouses and gloves to ensure injection safety, as well as other related procedures notably phlebotomy and lancet procedures .Appropriate equipment will also be provided to those health care institutions for health care waste management, such as incinerators and dustbins. The package of that support will include institutional support for the management of health care workers occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Direct beneficiaries: Health care providers, patients and general population.Output: Ten health care structures supported.

According to the 2008, 2009,2010 ANC and DHS survey reports, it is stated that the Democratic Republic of Congo has a stable HIV/AIDS generalized epidemic. Despite the Governments ongoing efforts to control HIV/AIDS, through its various specialized programs such as, notably the PNLS and the PNMLS as well as the other stakeholders (NGO, CBOS, funding providers, ..), there is a constant need to promote HIV/AIDS information to people about the spreading of the disease, its transmission routes, and also about several services being developed throughout the country.The foundation Femme Plus, through the hotline call center aimed to respond the population needs in providing HIV/AIDS information to callers. This call-center functions with counselors 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. There are permanent and voluntary counselors. The phone lines are provided free of charge by local phone firms but administrative and maintenance costs need to be covered. For the next year , this project will continue to assist the ongoing effort by providing administrative, technical and logistics support.Direct Beneficiaries: Overall population, essentially for youth population from 15 to 24 for abstinence. Concerning being faithful, the target is non single population up to 18 years. GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGEAll the eleven DRC provinces and some neighboring countries (Angola,Zambia, Republic of Congo and RCA)In addition, counselors will benefit trainings related to Sexual Gender Based Violences and HIV prevention communication techniques. The callers are referred to appropriate HIV services.

Output: 233,472 individuals reached through community outreach that promotes HIV/AIDS prevention through abstinence and/or faithfulness; 60 individuals trained to promote HIV/AIDS prevention through abstinence and/or faithfulness; and 60 individuals trained in other prevention services.

HIV voluntary counseling and testing (HVCT) programs have demonstrated their ability to increase safe sexual behavior and use of care and support services among individuals. HVCT activities help clients to know about their HIV serostatus and to create a personalized HIV risk reduction plan. Counseling, both before and after the test, and a risk reduction plan are the key features that distinguish HVCT from other HIV testing services.In DRC, many youth organizations are proactive in HIV voluntary testing and counseling activities. They sensitize their peers in the knowledge of their HIV serostatus. For the next fiscal year, the project plans to collaborate with 8 youth associations that will test and give back the test results in Kinshasa. They will organize counseling and testing sensitization campaigns towards militaries, police, students and prisoners. For the last twelve months, the HIV prevalence for prisonners and militaries was 0,9% and for the overall population 0,8% for the people recruited and tested during HVCT campaigns in Kinshasa.The mobile voluntary counseling and testing, special events are the approaches used to reach the target population. The national algorithm is used.The project through this activity will collaborate with other USG partners for the referral system to available nearest services for HIV positive cases and their follow up. In order to reinforce their capacity building, peer recruiters from those organizations will be trained in ABC prevention counseling and testing. The project will also provide technical and administrative support to these youth organizations.Direct Beneficiaries: Overall population, Youth of any categoriesOutput: 8 youth associations with HVCT activities strengthened; 28,800 individuals counseled and tested for HIV and received their results; 120 peer recruiters from those youth associations trained in counseling and testing according to national and international standards.

According to the 2008, 2009, 2010 ANC and 2007 DHS surveys reports, it is stated that the Democratic Republic of Congo has a stable HIV/AIDS generalized epidemic. Despite the Governments ongoing efforts to control HIV/AIDS, through its various specialized programs such as, notably the PNLS and the PNMLS as well as the other stakeholders (NGO, CBOS, funding providers, ..), there is a constant need to promote HIV/AIDS information to people about the spreading of the disease, its transmission routes, and also about several services being developed throughout the country.The foundation Femme Plus, through the hotline call center aimed to respond the population needs in providing HIV/AIDS information to callers. This call-center functions with counselors 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. There are permanent and voluntary counselors. The phone lines are provided free of charge by local phone firms but administrative and maintenance costs need to be covered. For the next year , this project will continue to assist the ongoing effort by providing administrative, technical and logistics support. .Direct Beneficiaries: Overall population GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGEAll the eleven DRC provinces and some neighboring countries (Angola,Zambia, Republic of Congo and RCA)In addition, counselors will benefit trainings related to Sexual Gender Based Violences and HIV prevention communication techniques. The callers are referred to appropriate HIV services. The KSPH will strengthen the PNLS Matonge clinic activities for STI management for Commercial Sex workers (CSW) and other Multiple at risk populations (MARPS).

Output: 534,528 individuals reached with preventive interventions that are based on evidence and/or meet the minimum standards required; 60 individuals trained to promote HIV/AIDS prevention through abstinence and/or faithfulness; and 60 individuals trained in other prevention services.