Findings from the 2010 SPLA BBSS demonstrated the SPLA was highly mobile, predominantly male, young, with many reporting having multiple wives or partners. Major gaps in basic knowledge of HIV transmission, HIV prevention measures, and awareness of HIV testing were seen. Other findings included relatively low reported condom use and knowledge on how to use condoms. High risk sexual behaviors included a large number of married individuals reporting other sexual partners, over 1/5 of sexually active participants reporting multiple sexual partners and approximately 15% of individuals reporting having had an STI. The HIV prevalence was 4.4% (range 2.4%-6.6%).

The SPLA and its HIV/AIDS Secretariat aim to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigate the negative impact of HIV and other STIs among its population and communities. Program components include sexual and other behavioral risk prevention, HIV testing and counseling (HTC), PMTCT and clinical care services utilizing ARVs from the GFATM, and lab services to support clinical care. Human resource training is a key component of the program.

TBD Partner will work directly with the SPLA to support the military in its ability to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate HIV program activities. Given the high mobility and broad geographic distribution of the SPLA and its approximately 150,000-200,000 members throughout the 10 states in S Sudan, program areas will concentrate in areas of highest SPLA population density and HIV prevalence. Program evaluation to identify barriers, challenges and effective interventions will be incorporated and a model of supervision and mentoring will be implemented to improve program quality.

Develop with the HIV/AIDS Secretariat a structured capacity building plan with targets, milestones and

timeline; Provide TA to launch and operationalize decentralized HIV/AIDS Secretariat subcommittees; Orient and train the subcommittee focal person in human resources management, financial management, supervision, financial accountability, travel claims, inventory, and logistics; Develop a work plan to incorporate and monitor the current prevention activities into the military system; Identify GOSS training opportunities that would benefit the Medical Corps plans for the development of new allied health professionals; Help the Medical Corps obtain funding to develop new allied health professionals; Arrange refresher training as needed for SPLA staff in HTC, PMTCT and PITC; With the HIV/AIDS Secretariat, revise the HIV/AIDS policy; Support the organizational development of the three SPLA PLHIV support groups that are registered as CBOs, including providing funding for the revolving loan fund; Support the HIV/AIDS Secretariat to use the for data management; Jointly develop an M&E operational plan; Conduct monthly M&E data review; Conduct semiannual DQAs at HTCs; Conduct joint supervision visits especially focused on quality assurance; Provide TA for concept notes and reports that the Secretariat staff will write; Strengthen their capacity to develop and lead presentations (e.g., PowerPoint presentations, charts and maps); Assist the HIV/AIDS Secretariat to institutionalize a standardized DQA process and to incorporate it into supportive supervision.

Maintain/relocate current HTCs; Provide the Basic Care Package of services and STI screening and

referrals at all the HTC sites; Support Mobile HTC outreach; Help the MOH to develop the PITC service guidelines, SOP and training curriculum; Train PITC trainers and health workers in PITC service

delivery; Implement PITC at JMH, targeting the TB, STI and in-patient wards; Provide refresher training

to those counselors who have worked for three years since completing the initial HTC counselor training; Expand the capacity of the Medical Corps to carry out mobile HTC in targeted areas including Juba, Yei, Nimule and Lainya; Strengthen couples counseling; Incorporate Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP); Adapt the Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) approach and introduce an Alcohol Consumption Screening Questionnaire at ART clinics; Produce and disseminate a leaflet on alcohol abuse; Conduct on the job training of providers and counselors in using the BMI Questionnaire; Strengthen and sustain quality assurance systems for HTC, including site-level performance evaluations, supportive supervision, DBS collection and awards of certificates for high quality. Conduct joint supervision of HTC, PMTCT, and ART sites; Facilitate quarterly counselors meetings to address issues pertaining to HTC.

Develop and implement an integrated BCC strategy to promote an evidence-based combination

prevention package using multiple channels; Provide HIV refresher training to the currently active HIV focal persons and peer educators; Mentor SPLA focal persons trainers to train new military personnel to replace those focal persons who have transferred or are not active; Revise and update the HIV training curricula for HIV focal persons and peer educators to include PwP, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), alcohol abuse, HIV/TB co-infection, gender norms, PMTCT and MCP; Conduct HIV/AIDS education outreach sessions for SPLA troops and their families, including focal persons leading 12 commander sensitizations each year; Extend HIV/AIDS education outreach sessions and promotion of condoms to communities surrounding military barracks; Implement a model whereby each HTC center and/or focal person is responsible for supervising 3-4 peer educators; Design, organize and facilitate one-day workshops on HIV/AIDS for female soldiers and wives of commanders in Juba and Yei;

Conduct mobile awareness campaigns to include opportunities for HTC and provision of combination

prevention interventions; Promote male involvement in HTC center counseling sessions and collaborate with the care and treatment component of the program to ensure that there is partner notification and/or family testing; Support MOH and SSAC in World AIDS Day activities; Support PLHIV support groups.