Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Details for Mechanism ID: 7973
Country/Region: Uganda
Year: 2010
Main Partner: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $0

Introduction: EGPAF Uganda supports the Uganda National PMTCT program to prevent HIV infection among infants and utilizes the PMTCT program as a point of identification of HIV-infected and affected individuals to provide care and support and access to HIV treatment services for families. EGPAF has provided PMTCT services in Uganda since 2000 with the initiation of a PMTCT program at Mulago Hospital with some of the Foundation's private funds. Over the past eight years, the Foundation's strategy in Uganda has been to support the PMTCT program of the Uganda MOH through design, development, management, monitoring, and technical support activities. In 2003, USAID funding allowed for substantial expansion of PMTCT services in the public sector which enabled EGPAF to scale up the PMTCT and HIV care and treatment programs to over 300 sites in 27 districts of Uganda. The Foundation works closely with the Uganda MOH and other PMTCT and treatment partners in Uganda to coordinate support and maximize coverage of PMTCT and HIV treatment services. These include: the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) that we work with to coordinate training of district health workers, forecasting, reporting and requisitions for HIV test kits, ARVs and drugs for opportunistic infections; JCRC which provides laboratory services for CD4 cell counts to HIV positive pregnant women as well as providing ARVS for PMTCT and ART; ICOBI offers community HIV counseling and testing in Bushenyi district and refers patients into care at various health facilities within the district. Uganda Cares provides CD4 cell testing in the districts of Masaka, Sembabule and Rakai; WHO and UNICEF are collaborating partners in the development and distribution of job aides, advocacy and participate in the various technical working groups at ACP/MOH; other USG PMTCT implementing partners including PREFA, Mild May, TASO, AIC, Baylor Children's Foundation Uganda, CRS/AIDS Relief collaborate in the sharing of best practices and the coordination of district activities. EGPAF also supports treatment services at 5 sites using private funds donated through the Abbott Fund.

Progress and Achievements: The EGPAF Uganda program has continued to make achievements against its broad objective to prevent HIV infection among infants and link identified HIV-positive mothers and their families to comprehensive care and support. The number of service outlets has increased from 37 to 363 in 27 districts. The use of more complex regimens for PMTCT has been scaled up within the EGPAF supported districts as part of a strategy to integrate affordable, family-based quality HIV/AIDS care and ART services into maternal and child health services. Building on the successful establishment of Family Support Groups a peer educator program has been initiated to integrate People Living with HIV/AIDS into routine HIV services.

FY 2010 activities: Activities to support service delivery will be focused on consolidating the achievements and successes of the past eight years of EGPAF programs in Uganda with an aim of final close out in March of 2010. The Foundation will continue to provide technical assistance to the national PMTCT and care and treatment programs by participating in MOH pediatric ART and PMTCT technical committees to ensure the full integration and transition of services to the ministry of health and to other partner organizations like JSI, Infectious Disease Institute (IDI), UNICEF and other new programs as will be determined by USAID. Technical assistance activities will mainly provide support for: 1) Transition of PMTCT and HIV Care and Treatment programs 8 districts (i.e. Iganga, Mayuge and Namutumba to the JSI Star East Central program; Kasese, Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kamwenge to UNICEF; and Kibaale to the IDI; 2) To integrate IYCF services into MCH, Reproductive health, Pediatric, PMTCT, HIV/AIDS care and treatment services at 300 USG supported PMTCT facilities; 3) Increased knowledge of good nutrition among health workers and caretakers of HIV exposed children; and 4) Improved dietary practices among HIV+ pregnant and lactating women and their infants.

As part of the transition processes during FY 10 the Foundation will not provide budget support to the 27 district-based local government health service networks. During this transitional period the Foundation will however continue to provide limited funding to a local NGO, MUJHU Care Ltd, which provides support for the programs in Mulago, Rubaga and Mengo hospitals. Technical support will however continue to be provided to 19 districts as assigned by the MOH with concurrence from USAID/Kampala.

The EGPAF M&E officers will continue to work with the district officers to improve data collection, analysis and utilization by the districts. Specific capacity building at the site level and district level will include improving coordination of data collection from clinic service registers and client logs and reporting to the Ministry of Health Resource Center and AIDS Control Program database.

Subpartners Total: $0
Makerere University - Johns Hopkins University Collaboration: NA