Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Details for Mechanism ID: 13981
Country/Region: Lesotho
Year: 2013
Main Partner: Population Services International
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $3,225,000

The objectives of this project are to: (1) Increase knowledge of individual and partner status through expanded community-based HTC services; (2) Increase practice of safer sexual behaviors, including secondary abstinence, partner reduction and correct and consistent condom use, parallel to and following use of HTC services; and, (3) Increase use of post-test services through improved referral systems. The project will contribute to the National Multi-Sectoral HIV Prevention Strategy 2011-2015 (NPS) by reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS in Lesotho through expanded access to HTC services and behavioral programming emphasizing evidenced-based sexual and biomedical prevention strategies.

The project will use three complementary approaches to ensure the delivery of high-quality HTC services: 1) direct provision of mobile services to men in urban and peri-urban areas of Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng and Mohales Hoek districts; 2) support a local partner, LIRAC, to provide door-to-door HTC to men and women 15-35, with an emphasis on couples, in rural and peri-urban areas of all ten districts of Lesotho; and, 3) annual "Test for Your Team" tournaments and other special events to reach men in at least one council of each of the ten districts with mobile HTC services. These mobile and community-based approaches will ensure immediate cost-efficiencies over traditional static site HTC service delivery models.

Quality assurance monitors will supervise and improve the quality of counseling and testing activities implemented by both the direct HTC service team and community-based counselors. The project's MIS infrastructure will ensure the regular collection and reporting of key indicators and inform project adjustments, as needed.

Funding for Testing: HIV Testing and Counseling (HVCT): $3,225,000

The projects service delivery strategy hinges on three complementary approaches: 1) direct provision of mobile services to men in urban and peri-urban areas; 2) support a local partner, LIRAC, to provide door-to-door HTC, with an emphasis on couples, in rural and peri-urban areas; and, 3) annual "Test for Your Team" tournaments and other special events to reach men. Mobile HTC services in urban areas will reach men 20-35 through workplaces, taxi ranks, shebeens and border areas. Three high-capacity teams of seasoned HTC counselors, will provide daily outreach services to urban areas of Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng and Mohales Hoek districts. Emphasis will be placed upon expanding service availability in Maseru, Maputsoe and Mafeteng, which have both the highest population density and the highest HIV prevalence in the country. In addition to its core HTC services targeting men, mobile teams will provide youth-friendly HTC services to men and women 18-24 on university campuses around Maseru. The project will support LIRAC to provide door-to-door HTC services targeting men and women 15-35, with an emphasis on couples, focusing on rural and peri-urban areas. To maximize project impact and prevent counselor burnout, door-to-door HTC teams will conduct two campaigns in each intervention community over the course of the year. Each campaign will comprise an initial training/planning phase, intensive mobilization and IPC, service provision and debriefing. The project will also mobilize large urban and peri-urban congregations for HTC events spearheaded by the mobile HTC teams. Parishes not participating in door-to-door campaigns will be targeted for these intensive efforts to maximize project coverage. To ensure referral uptake, the project will hire a dedicated Referral Coordinator who liaise with referral points to build relationships and clients will be contacted to provide follow-up and track referrals. The project will also coordinate regular national- and district-level meetings between LIRAC and local service partners (including CHAL and the MoHSW), and involve local representatives of service partners in planning and feedback activities for parish-level campaigns.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $450,000
Gender: Gender Equality $300,000
Human Resources for Health $150,000
Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
Implement activities to change harmful gender norms & promote positive gender norms
Increase gender equity in HIV prevention, care, treatment and support
Tuberculosis
End-of-Program Evaluation