Visit of the Molecular Biology Laboratory of Donka National Hospital (OPP-ERA project) and introduction of the future project PACTES
7 March 2017
GUINEACAPACITY BUILDINGLABORATORIES AND TECHNICAL PLATFORMSSTRENGTHENING SYSTEMS AND HEALTH SERVICESFighting HIV / AIDS
AFD delegation visited on Saturday 4 March 2017, the molecular biology laboratory of Donka National Hospital. The laboratory is part of the two molecular biology laboratories in Conakry supported by OPP-ERA, the viral load access project funded by UNITAID and implemented by Solthis in Guinea in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
Headed by its Africa Director Yazid BENSAID, the delegation comprised AFD Executive Officer Counsellor, AFD Desk officer and AFD Head of Mission in Guinea. The meeting was attended by Dr Koita, Executive Director of the National Program for Health Care and Prevention of STI / HIV / AIDS, Prof. Cissé, Deputy Director of the Donka National Hospital, Association of PHAs “Fondation Espoir Guinée (FEG)” in charge of the psychosocial care of PLHIV at Donka hospital and Solthis Head of Mission as well as the OPP-ERA Project Manager in Guinea.
Throughout exchanges and a guided visit of the laboratory, the AFD delegation was presented the main achievements of OPP-ERA in Guinea. The project allowed access for the first time to free viral load for patients in the national public health system. The main purpose of the project’ second phase , which started in August 2016, is to decentralize access to these tests in Kankan and to ensure polyvalence of the platforms in order to be able carry out other examinations than HIV viral load : so for example tuberculosis and newborns early HIV diagnosis .
PACTES : Future OPP-ERA Phasee II complementary project
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the contribution of PACTES ( Patients Centered Treatment and Health care), co-financed by AFD and UNITAID, in terms of community mobilization for access to better quality care, promotion of users’ rights and enhancing dialogue between patients and caregivers. This project will be implemented by Solthis in partnership with the Ministry of Health, PLHIV Associations / networks, HIV health care centers and molecular biology laboratories.
Read more about the OPP-ERA Project
Funded by UNITAID and implemented by a consortium of partners: Solthis, ANRS, Expertise France and Sidaction, the OPP-ERA project was launched in March 2013 in Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. The project aims to improve cost-effective monitoring of people living with HIV by increasing access to HIV viral load tests and availability of open polyvalent platforms (OPP), innovative molecular biology based technology that can measure HIV viral load and diagnose other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The machines used are suitable for central and decentralized laboratories.
In Guinea, its first phase demontrated more than 12,000 HIV viral loads tests between August 2014 and November 2016.
Read more about UNITAID fight agiants HIV/AIDS
