Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Details for Mechanism ID: 13695
Country/Region: South Africa
Year: 2013
Main Partner: Epicentre AIDS Risk Management
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $1,300,000

In response to national and PEPFAR priorities, Epicentre is establishing an HIV incidence surveillance system in Sisonke District of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) Province. The objectives of the surveillance system are to 1) establish population-level adult HIV incidence and monitor changes in incidence trends over time, 2) determine programmatic factors associated with changes in new HIV infections, and 3) validate laboratory HIV incidence estimation assays against cohort incidence measurements.

This surveillance system will employ a cross-sectional approach with an embedded cohort and is designed to be complementary to the national household survey. The system is being established where PEPFAR partners and the district government are scaling-up intensive, multi-pronged prevention interventions including MMC, HCT and comprehensive prevention services. It will collect localized and detailed information about the HIV response in the geographic area and have the ability to look more closely at associations in scale-up of prevention efforts on changes in HIV incidence in a real world, non-trial setting. It will also establish population-level incidence and prevalence baseline in order to monitor future trends as new bio-medical technologies become available including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and vaginal or anal microbicides. In addition, it will provide the ability to validate different laboratory assays and algorithms against cohort-derived incidence as well as potentially introducing additional laboratory components. This activity is being conducted with the strong endorsement of the KZN provincial government and in close collaboration with government and PEPFAR partners in Sisonke District. No vehicles are being purchased.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $300,000

FY 2012 activities for this partner included baseline assessments and community mapping, stakeholder sensitization and buy-in, protocol and tool development, ethical clearance, and training for study team members cross-sectional data collection. In FY 13 cohort data collection will take place including HIV and STI testing and a behavioral interview of each participant as well as incidence testing and validation of new incidence assays. The sample size will be approximately 6,000 men and 6,000 women in one district in KwaZulu Natal where PEPFAR and the local government are scaling-up medical male circumcision and comprehensive prevention programs.

Funding for Strategic Information (HVSI): $600,000

FY 2012 activities for this partner included baseline assessments and community mapping, stakeholder sensitization and buy-in, protocol and tool development, ethical clearance, and training for study team members cross-sectional data collection. In FY 13 cohort data collection will take place including HIV and STI testing and a behavioral interview of each participant. The sample size will be approximately 6,000 men and 6,000 women in one district in KwaZulu Natal where PEPFAR and the local government are scaling-up medical male circumcision and comprehensive prevention programs.

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (CIRC): $200,000

FY 2011 activities for this partner included baseline assessments and community mapping, stakeholder sensitization and buy-in, protocol and tool development, ethical clearance, and training for study team members. In year two, FY 2012 surveillance data collection will take place including HIV and STI testing and a behavioral interview of each participant. The sample size will be approximately 2,500 men and 2,500 women in one district in KwaZulu Natal where PEPFAR and the local government are scaling-up medical male circumcision and comprehensive prevention programs.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $200,000

FY 2012 activities for this partner included baseline assessments and community mapping, stakeholder sensitization and buy-in, protocol and tool development, ethical clearance, and training for study team members cross-sectional data collection. In FY 13 cohort data collection will take place including HIV and STI testing and a behavioral interview of each participant as well as incidence testing and validation of new incidence assays. The sample size will be approximately 6,000 men and 6,000 women in one district in KwaZulu Natal where PEPFAR and the local government are scaling-up medical male circumcision and comprehensive prevention programs.