Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013 2014

Details for Mechanism ID: 14450
Country/Region: South Africa
Year: 2013
Main Partner: Society for Family Health
Main Partner Program: South Africa
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: USDOD
Total Funding: $0

The South African National Defense Force (SANDF)'s HIV prevalence is unknown and is estimated to be at the same level as the national prevalence. The SANDF employs around 74,000 active personnel based around the countrys nine provinces.The goal of the program is to optimise HIV prevention outcomes and contribute to the reduction of HIV infections by 50% within the SANDF in line with the NSP. SAs military forces are highly vulnerable to HIV due to the nations overall high prevalence rates as well as the soldiers working environment, mobility, age and other factors which expose them to greater risk of infection in comparison to civilians. SFH will contribute to reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the SANDF by achieving the following objectives: Increase the militarys capacity to manage HIV through training of military leadership, master trainers and peer educators. Improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the drivers of the HIV epidemic among military personnel through material development and condom supply. Provision of support and oversight for Voluntary Male Circumcision services. Organizational capacity: SFH benefits from a strong and longstanding partnership with the SAG and has a wealth of experience with a range of HIV prevention programs including HIV Counseling and Testing, Condom Social Marketing, HIV Behavior Change Communication and Male Circumcision. SFH will draw upon its strength in government collaboration and extensive HIV prevention experience to assure successful program development and implementation. Based in Johannesburg, SFH is an affiliate of global health NGO Population Services International (PSI) which implements HIV projects with the support of DOD in over 15 countries.

Funding for Biomedical Prevention: Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (CIRC): $0

The goal of the program is to contribute to the reduction of HIV infections within the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) through provision of support and oversight for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services. The SANDF has a comprehensive plan for the management of HIV and AIDS fro its members and their families. The miltary plans to expand its current prevention efforts by establishing VMMC services at one facility in each of the province in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Western Cape making up three sites in total. Society for Family Health (SFH) will support the VMMC program through the following activities: Support in set up - this will involve procurement of supplies and equipment and provision of technical assistance on refurbishment in order to ensure facility readiness; Oversight - SFH will provide both internal and external quality assurance to the sites. this will include conducting quarterly visits to the sites to provide technical assistance; Production of IEC material - SFH will procure or source IEC fro use at VMMC sites and at other military health facilities; Training - the SANDF has undertaken to utilize the Model for Optimizing Volume and Efficiency (MOVE) in line with the National Department of Health and World Health approved guidelines. SFH will sub-contract the Centre for HIV and AIDS Prevention Studies (CHAPS) to train doctors and nurses in the execution of the VMMC procedure and implementation of the MOVE model. SFH will also train VMMC counselors. SFH has been running a Voluntary Medical male Circumcision centre in KwaZulu Natal province since March 2010. The clinic has circumcised approximately 6,166 men since it was launched through end of June 2011. SFH has therefore demonstrated adequate tecnical and organosational capacity to be able to support the SANDF VMMC program.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $0

Society for Family Health (SFH) will work with South African Military Health Services to provide technical assistance and support in the prevention portfolio. Military leadership is central to program implementation and sustainability, one of SFH's role will be to conduct workshops with approximately 135 military leadership (Army, Navy, Air Force and the SAMHS) on the impact of HIV on military forces and to help strengthen the response to HIV among the South African National Defense Force. In line with the South African Government and PEPFAR direction of building capacity and health systems strengthening, SFH will train approximately 18 Master Trainers using a 'train the trainer to train' approach on the knowlegde, atttitudes and practices driving HIV transmission among military and in evidence-based behavior change communication and proven interpersonal communication strategies. SFH will also develop and pretest a standard curriculum which is military sensitive on peer education. Approximately 200 peer educators will be trained and supported with manuals, IEC material will be developed in collaboration with the military's Corporate Communications Office. SFH will conduct a baseline quantitative survey (KAP Study) which will be used to inform training material and IEC development. The peer educators will be deployed to all provinces and at internal and external deployment sites. Condom branding and distribution: SFH will develop military brand condom with marketing strategy and plan and distribute approxiamtely 1.75 million military branded male condoms.

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
Military Populations
Workplace Programs