Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2008 2009

Details for Mechanism ID: 1259
Country/Region: Uganda
Year: 2008
Main Partner: Ministry of Health - Uganda
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Host Country Government Agency
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $5,503,543

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT): $350,000

In FY08, the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national Central Public Health Laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control processes; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center (HC) IVs

and IIIs laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support

national monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the

PEPFAR technical workgroups.

The national PMTCT program outlined in the HSSP II (2006-2010) focuses on revising the national PMTCT

policy, supporting the holistic implementation of the four-pronged PMTCT strategy (primary prevention;

family planning; provision of ARV prophylaxis; care and support) and includes the consolidation of services

to increase uptake, male involvement, strengthening of family planning services, and improvement of

comprehensive care for HIV positive women, their spouses and their exposed children through early HIV

diagnosis and linkages to care. Activities will continue to support broad scaling up and strengthening of

HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support, and treatment services through health center PMTCT services as part

of the National Minimum Health Care Package. An emphasis on increasing access to quality PMTCT

services will be expanded to ensure national coverage to meet the Millennium Development Goal to reverse

and halt the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

In FY 2008 specific activities include: expanding PMTCT to HC IIIs to provide counseling and testing to 95%

of attending pregnant women through routine opt-out and to reach 80% with prophylaxis coverage for

mothers and 65% for their babies and to increase access to short-term AZT in addition to intra-partum

single-dose nevirapine; continuing the dissemination of updated guidelines, training manual and job aides to

all ANC sites; training for tutors and service-providers; integrating family planning education into PMTCT

counseling sessions; initiating male involvement programs; strengthening referrals from PMTCT to care and

treatment services; and, conducting a national assessment of the five-year program.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Abstinence/Be Faithful (HVAB): $170,000

In FY 2008 the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the

objectives outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS

National Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care,

and treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

The national Information, Education and Communication/Behavior Change Communication (IEC/BCC)

strategy has been critical in facilitation of the behavior change process by creating awareness, influencing

attitudes and beliefs as well as promoting skills. It has played a role in promoting the uptake and utilization

of existing services which have increased with time in both scope and variety.

In FY 2008 the IEC/BCC strategy of the Ministry of Health will support and relate to the broad activities of

the expanded HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care initiatives consistent with the HSSP II and NSP.

Owing to the cross-cutting nature of IEC/BCC strategy, it will address the needs of specific HIV sub-

programmes and other relevant health sector programmes and appropriate abstinence and be faithful (AB)

messages will be incorporated into PMTCT, HIV counseling and testing, and treatment programs. Specific

activities will be the continued dissemination of AB messages through mass media; expansion of district-

level advocacy; updated IEC materials and training for youth peer educations; and, integration of AB into

appropriate prevention initiatives.

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Injection Safety (HMIN): $200,000

In FY08 the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

The main role of the Infection Control Unit of the MOH is to prevent medical transmission of HIV/AIDS of

which injection safety is a key component. The infection control program targets all health care settings;

however, medical transmission of HIV in the community has recently aroused interest with the increased

provision of home-based care for AIDS patients. To address this, MOH will continue in FY 2008 to build the

capacity of districts to initiate and implement Infection Prevention Programmes. The main focus of these

activities will be to promote standard precautions against blood borne pathogens and training for district

health management teams and health center staff to provide technical guidance to home-based care

programs. In addition, policies and guidelines on injection safety practices and post exposure prophylaxis

will be updated and disseminated to the district health teams.

Funding for Care: Adult Care and Support (HBHC): $331,625

In FY08 the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

Basic palliative health care initiatives will include further development of policy and technical guidelines for

home-based care (HBC), including the provision of end of life care, cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among HIV

infected people, STI syndromic management in HIV+ individuals and nutrition education for people living

with HIV/AIDS (PHA). Basic health care will be addressed as an essential component of the continuum of

services from prevention through diagnosis and treatment to ensure a holistic package for all HIV+ persons.

Training for health care providers and capacity building at the district-level will enhance the provision of

home based care services to PHAs, the treatment of STIs in HIV+ persons, nutrition education for HIV-

effected families, and integration of TB/HIV services.

Funding for Testing: HIV Testing and Counseling (HVCT): $60,000

In FY08 the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing (HCT) is a recognized entry point for HIV-positive clients into HIV

prevention, care, treatment and support services. For the uninfected, a negative HIV test result offers an

opportunity for reinforcement of information and advice on safer behaviors. For infected individuals, referral

for care, treatment and support for the individual and families are made earlier to prevent further

transmission. In addition, prevention with positives interventions for those infected will further contribute to

HIV prevention efforts. In a country like Uganda with a mature HIV epidemic and corresponding

interventions, the goal for HIV prevention is that every adult, including sexually active adolescents know

their HIV status. According to the Uganda HIV/AIDS Sero-Behavioral Survey [2005], 80% of HIV positive

Ugandans do not know their sero-status; there is limited access to and lack of information about counseling

and testing options, poverty, insecurity and perceived stigma. In addition, over half of HIV+ married or co-

habiting individuals have a discordant spouse. Currently the two main challenges of HCT service provision

are access and continuous supply of HIV test kits.

With the launch of a national ‘know your status' campaign and accelerated HIV prevention program in

2006, the MOH disseminated a revised HIV National Counseling and Testing policy which adopted key

HCT approaches: routine provider-initiated opt-out; home-based and client-initiated VCT; post-exposure

prophylaxis and, considerations for testing children under 18 years of age. Despite the 450 facility testing

sites nationwide, access to HCT by the rural poor and special groups, such as internally displaced persons,

uniformed services, prisoners, and hard to reach areas like fishing communities remains limited. In FY

2008, MOH will continue to expand on these approaches to providing HCT and will ensure that all HCT

activities include the appropriate referral linkages to treatment, care, and support for all those testing HIV-

positive.

Funding for Treatment: Adult Treatment (HTXS): $826,918

In FY08 the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

This activity will continue support to training of health workers in district health facilities in comprehensive

HIV/AIDS care and management of ART with an emphasis on targeting medical officers, clinical officers,

nurses, counselors and nursing assistants who provide direct HIV care and treatment. The MOH treatment

unit will also enhance support supervision to all accredited health facilities providing ART services. Finally,

the MOH will lead the national treatment workgroup in a review to update and disseminate the national ART

policy, treatment guidelines and training materials.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $2,025,000

In FY08 the Ministry of Health of Uganda will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health-Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

countrywide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

Strengthening laboratory capacity to support quality HIV testing services as well as HIV services quality

improvement are keys to effective HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs. This strengthening will be

accomplish through the establishment of quality assurance and control policies, proficiency testing,

standardized guidelines and SOPs, safety guidelines, equipment management plans, and support

supervision in districts throughout the country. The activity will support the continued strengthening of the

capacity of the MOH Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) to provide public health laboratory services,

early diagnosis of HIV infection among infants, roll out of training for HIV rapid testing and TB slide

microscopy, and improvement of quality services for HIV/AIDS countrywide with a focus on treatment. MOH

CPHL will conduct the following activities: Central coordination of all MOH CPHL activities, support and

supervision for districts, and monitoring of laboratory supplies procured from the National Medical Stores.

The development of policy guidelines for laboratory services will be produced and disseminated. The MOH

CPHL training coordination unit will be strengthened to meet additional anticipated training needs,

increasing the number of service providers trained in HIV rapid testing, expanding training to include other

testing procedures and basic management skills, increasing advocacy for better consensus, and

coordinating among stakeholders and establishing links and working relationships with other countries, in

order to share experiences and lessons learnt. The MOH CPHL will also continue to roll-out refresher

training in HIV rapid testing at all health facilities across the country as well as carry out regular program

performance reviews.

The program will continue to develop and implement national quality control/quality assurance schemes,

consolidate and expand EQA for CD4 testing, and start QA schemes for other test procedures. Distribution

of quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) guidance, reporting and timely feedback will be undertaken.

To address the issue of QA in laboratories across the country, existing activities will be expanded and

strengthened, data collected, collated and analyzed and action taken to remedy poor performance. QA

activities will, wherever possible, be merged into support supervision.

Funding for Strategic Information (HVSI): $740,000

In FY 2008 the Ministry of Health of Uganda will continue to conduct activities to achieve the objectives

outlined in the nation's second Health-Sector Strategic Plan, (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS National

Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care, and

treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

countrywide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gas and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

The objective of this activity is to provide accurate data to inform strategic planning and monitoring and

evaluation (M&E) of HIV prevention, care and treatment as well as broader integrated health sector

programs. This activity will support improvement of second generation HIV surveillance program, M&E, and

targeted evaluation. The HIV surveillance system will be strengthened and expanded to include surveillance

sites in several districts in order to continue trend observation. A strengthened surveillance system is

particularly important in light of the current trends of HIV prevalence that call for enhanced trend

observation. Support for the annual round of antenatal sentinel surveillance will be provided including

training of sentinel site staff, field data collection, procurement of test kits and their distribution to sites,

central laboratory testing, quality control, and data analysis. HIV surveillance will continue to be conducted

as part of second generation surveillance recommendations made by WHO/UNAIDS. The program will

continue to support elements of STI surveillance, behavioral surveillance, and AIDS case surveillance as

part of monitoring of the ART program. STI sentinel surveillance and STI case reporting through the national

universal reporting system (HMIS) will be supported through training of sentinel, district, and sub-district

based staff and through the collection, analysis and dissemination of data. HIV/STI surveillance among high

risk groups will be supported including supporting sero-prevalence surveys among selected high risk groups

such as sex workers, fishermen, truckers, etc. The activity will continue to support updating the relevant

surveillance protocols and obtaining institutional ethical approvals. The activity will also support collection of

sero-prevalence data from ancillary sources including programmatic data such as HIV Counseling and

Testing (HCT), PMTCT and blood transfusion. Dissemination of findings will continue to be supported

including printing of surveillance reports as well as conducting and participating in dissemination meetings.

This activity will also provide support for integrated M&E of health sector HIV programs bringing together

M&E components for STI, PMTCT, ART, HCT, condom promotion, AB programs and AIDS care program

data. The activity will also support a platform for integration of program monitoring and surveillance data.

Technical support to districts and other organizations will continue to be provided in order to improve

competence for local M&E with emphasis on output and process monitoring. Program indicators for output,

process, outcome, and impact monitoring will be reviewed and updated, particularly taking into account

emerging program areas such as ART, cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, and TB/HIV collaborative activities. In

addition, utilization of M&E and surveillance data will be strengthened through appropriate training of users

and enhanced dissemination of M&E findings. The component will also support quality improvement of

integrated HIV prevention care and support programs through support supervision, technical assistance,

and targeted evaluation.

Funding for Health Systems Strengthening (OHSS): $800,000

In FY 2008 the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) will continue to conduct activities to achieve the

objectives outlined in the nation's second Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP II) and the updated HIV/AIDS

National Strategic Plan (NSP) aimed at expanding efforts to improve access to quality HIV prevention, care,

and treatment to HIV infected/affected persons and their families. Specifically the MOH will undertake the

following five initiatives: 1) HIV Prevention, Palliative Care, Treatment and Support to improve the quality

and scale-up of HIV/AIDS programs including: coordination of local and international partners to increase

access to confidential counseling and testing, PMTCT, palliative care and treatment services; improved

integration of HIV prevention, care and treatment into comprehensive primary health care; and, support for

country-wide access to confidential HIV counseling and testing through provider-initiated and home-based

testing approaches; 2) TB/HIV Integration to strengthen integrated prevention and clinical management of

HIV and TB and increase access to confidential HIV testing for TB patients and TB diagnosis and treatment

for HIV+ individuals; 3) Policy and Systems Strengthening to identify gaps and develop, revise and update

Uganda national policies and technical guidelines for HIV/AIDS related health services and to develop and

implement policies and technical guidelines to improve the management of TB/HIV co-infection; 4)

Laboratory Infrastructure to support the national central public health laboratory to develop policies,

standard operating procedures and quality assurance and quality control process; to conduct training and

support supervision to peripheral, district and, regional laboratories; to improve access to early infant HIV

diagnosis; and, to develop the capacity for related diagnosis of HIV, TB and OI in health center IVs and IIIs

laboratories; 5) Strategic Information to implement HIV/TB/STI surveillance activities and support national

monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB/STI and population-based studies as approved through the PEPFAR

technical workgroups.

The MOH's mandate is developing policies, standards and technical guidelines for the provision of quality

health services. Included in this is the responsibility for the review, revision, development, and

dissemination of updated technical policies relating to HIV/AIDS to guide national and district health

services and frontline service providers in the provision of comprehensive and effective prevention, care

and treatment services. All relevant policies and guidelines will be evidence based, relevant, appropriate

and responsive to meet the demands for appropriate services to address the current epidemic in Uganda

and to ensure the achievement of the program goals. During policy development, the program will conduct

wide consultation with national and international experts and local stakeholders, service providers,

nongovernmental organizations, community based organizations, other sectors whose activities impact on

the program and most importantly with the intended users of the services, persons infected with HIV and

their families. With the availability of new information and rapid development of new technologies, the MOH

in FY 2008 will review the current condom policy, HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) policy, PMTCT

services and infant-feeding policies, treatment policies with a focus on adherence and drug-resistance

monitoring , cotrimoxazole prophylaxis guidelines, home- based care services, Post-exposure prophylaxis

(PEP), and develop new policies for the implementation of male circumcision, Isoniazid prophylaxis,

prevention with positives and HSV-2 suppressive therapy. Dissemination of the TB/HIV policies will also be

reviewed. The MOH's human resources department will be supported to implement the new HR policy to

create the new position of HIV counselors in public health facilities.

Finally, the MOH will ensure the completion of unfinished policies and guidelines and will undertake

activities to evaluate existing policies with a view to identifying gaps.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $0
Food and Nutrition: Commodities $0