Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Details for Mechanism ID: 4524
Country/Region: Tanzania
Year: 2007
Main Partner: Catholic Relief Services
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: FBO
Funding Agency: HHS/HRSA
Total Funding: $1,063,792

Funding for Treatment: Adult Treatment (HTXS): $1,063,792

AIDSRelief -Rapid expansion of ART (Central funds)

This activity is linked to 7694 in treatment.

This brief overview of activities reflects the entire AIDSRelief Consortium treatment program in Tanzania. The central funds from headquarters will be used to complement in-country funds for the roll-out of the whole program. The targets, legislative issues, major and minor focus etc. for the program are therefore reflected in the narrative associated with the in-country funds.

The AIDSRelief Consortium is achieving significant success in providing anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to underserved populations in Tanzania, thereby helping to improve the quality of life for persons living with HIV and AIDS. The AIDSRelief Consortium, comprised of Catholic Relief Services, Institute of Human Virology (University of Maryland), Futures Group and Interchurch Medical Assistance, began as a track 1.0 ART partner in July 2004, initiating program support for seven local partner treatment facilities. By August 31st, 2006, these seven sites had 5,063 active patients receiving ART and 17,264 HIV+ patients in care. AIDSRelief is working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the in-country USG team supporting host-country strategic objectives.

A key element of AIDSRelief is the program's guiding principles, these being a major element in the success and sustainability of this project. Such principles state, for example, that: (i) Care and treatment for HIV infected individuals should be integrated into the existing health care infrastructure; (ii) Treatment success for the program is ultimately defined by therapeutic outcomes that produce a sustainable health and quality-of-life impact on individual patients, their families, and their communities; and (iii) Ssuccessful ART interventions are those that provide durable viral and immunological response to the initial first line ARV regimens.

AIDSRelief is a comprehensive program to help strengthen the capacity of local partner treatment facilities to implement quality HIV care and treatment programs. The program works in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including the in-country USG team and the National AIDS Control Program to ensure these programs are in harmony with national guidelines. The main components of the AIDSRelief program include: (1) clinical capacity building and mentoring; (2) quality assurance and improvement; (3) pharmaceutical procurement and supply chain management; (4) laboratory infrastructure and capacity; (5) adherence and community mobilization; (6) strategic information; and (7) finance and compliance. AIDSRelief provides technical and financial support in all of these program areas to local partners, as and when needed.

Unique program interventions have included "wrap-around" macronutrient support programs at two ART program sites; strengthening of VCT/TB linkages at five hospitals and 6 stand-alone VCT centers; training in pediatric HIV counseling and community-based adherence programs.

Proposed activities for FY 2007 include: (i) rapid expansion of ART program support to 16 treatment facilities by March 2007 and further expansion to an additional 18 sites by February 2008, totaling 34 local partners by the end of FY 2007; (ii) extended on-site clinical mentoring involving the entire care and treatment team (clinician, nurse, lab, adherence, pharmacy, SI, management and finance) at each local partner site; (iii) strengthening of Regional Health Management Teams and integrating them into ART expansion planning and ongoing supportive supervision; (iv) ensuring ongoing quality assurance/quality improvement is taking place through evaluative efforts including viral load sampling; (v) continued support for and expansion of community-based adherence and care programs that help partner facilities identify new cases; and (vi) providing support for people receiving ART, while reducing stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.