Human Resources Capacity Building for ART Program Implementation

The narrative for this activity is unchanged.

In spite of the multifaceted efforts to increase access to and utilization and availability of ART services, the

number of eligible patients receiving treatment in Ethiopia is still limited to about 15%. The Government of

Ethiopia has set very ambitious targets for scaling up ART and intends to deliver ART services to over

250,000 patients by 2008. The scale and complexity of ART program implementation in Ethiopia will exert

huge pressure on the already fragile health care delivery system.

Establishing and maintaining minimum standards for safe and high quality ART services will be a top priority

for PEPFAR Ethiopia. This and other priorities, such as the need to scale up ART services in different

geographical settings across different age groups, and consideration of other socio-demographic

determinants, will continue to pose major challenges to the health system. Severe capacity limitations,

particularly the chronic shortage of skilled human resources, have been a constant problem. Innovative

ways of addressing capacity issues is therefore a significant priority for PEPFAR Ethiopia's ART program.

There is a need to fully mobilize and exploit indigenous resources to achieve ambitious targets for treatment

and care. Local partners will have major roles in ART program implementation, but much of the existing

potential has not yet been utilized.

Indigenous health professional associations, some of which are well established, are partners that have not

been given due attention in the fight against HIV/AIDS in general, and the implementation of ART in

particular. These associations collectively have a significant number of professionals working in various

types of facilities and at different levels of the health system throughout Ethiopia. Health professionals can

be reached through their respective professional associations and their contributions to program

implementation can be coordinated by these associations to achieve maximum affect. HIV/AIDS related

activities at hospitals and health centers and facility management can be strengthened through these

associations. The possible solutions to the problems of disconnection between hospitals and health centers

and the rift between public, private and military HIV/AIDS programs lie with the consortium of these

associations.

With support from PEPFAR Ethiopia, several professional medical associations will join together in a

consortium to address pressing HIV/AIDS issues. The consortium will be led by the Ethiopian Medical

Association (EMA), the oldest health professionals' association in Ethiopia. Additional members will include

the Association of Physicians in Private Practice, the Ethiopian Nurses Association, (ENA), the Ethiopian

Pharmaceutical Association (EPA) and the Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists. The

consortium will, for example, lead efforts to establish national ethical standards for care and ART services,

coordinate post-exposure prophylaxis services for care providers, certify and promote infection prevention in

facilities, strengthen multidisciplinary team approaches, establish chronic care models for HIV/AIDS

activities, and ultimately, integrate ART into primary care services. The consortium will link its activities with

those of various specialty societies and with the Ethiopian Public Health Association. The consortium will

command a very large membership of health professionals directly involved in clinical, pharmacy and

laboratory services related to ART, VCT and other HIV/AIDS related activities.

In FY08, the consortium will:

1) Support the training of physicians, health officers, nurses, pharmacists, druggists and laboratory

technologists in the delivery of care, drug services and laboratory support and monitoring of ART

implementation.

2) Support and provide continuing education in all aspects of ART to those already trained.

3) Organize and provide periodic updates to those already trained through continuing education programs

to be conducted in various regions of the country.

4) Publish updates on new developments, national and regional guidelines in ART and other aspects of

HIV/AIDS and ensure that technical materials are properly disseminated and utilized by end users.

5) Make experts available for various PEPFAR Ethiopia initiatives, such as twinning activities, warm-line

services and mentoring activities.

6) Support mobilization and deployment of human resources to support ART service delivery in various

regions of the country.

The consortium will work closely with PEPFAR Ethiopia partners across the country. Members of the

consortium will establish mechanisms for efficient communication and coordination for the development of

detailed plans and implementation strategies in order to contribute substantially to PEPFAR Ethiopia's

activities and targets.