Solthis Therapeutic Solidarity and Initiatives for Health

CAPACITY BUILDINGSTRENGTHENING SYSTEMS AND HEALTH SERVICESFighting HIV / AIDS

Background

In line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on HIV testing services and the Global Fund’s recently released HIV information note, countries receiving HIV allocations are encouraged to develop differentiated approaches to HIV testing services. The selection of these approaches should be based on a review of HIV testing data (including national epidemiological data and indicators for testing) and coverage bottlenecks by geographic area, population and service delivery sites. WHO recommends HIV self-testing (HIVST) as a differentiated approach to testing.  The Global Fund has also provided catalytic funding to some countries, including Cameroon, in addition to their core allocation, for priority areas such as self-testing.

Overall objective of the mission

To provide technical assistance to the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and in-country stakeholders in Cameroon for the inclusion of HIV self-testing in the Global Fund application for funding (NFM3).

The consultant will work under the technical guidance and supervision of WHO and facilitate an inclusive country dialogue on the development of the catalytic self-testing operational policy and implementation plan that can be used to guide the Global Fund’s NFM3 funding request.

Activities

• Development of an initial report/diagnosis; description of the work/activities to be undertaken for the introduction of self-testing, including action plan and timeline
• Review of relevant policy/operational documents and analysis of HIV testing data
• Facilitation of consultative meetings with key stakeholders (institutional and community), including the technical working group on testing, analysis and mapping of stakeholders (including community-based testing services) and financial and human resources needed for implementation Development of a detailed operational plan with a clear implementation timeline; support needed for the implementation of testing interventions, including self-testing
• Gantt chart with activities to be devoted to the roll-out of self-testing: human and financial resources, processes/activities and outcomes.

Résultats

Literature review, situation analysis and preparatory workshop (review of available policy, strategic and operational documents and all screening data from all sources – including self-testing)

Country dialogue and stakeholder engagement (identification of strategic opportunities to implement and expand self-testing, including barriers and facilitators, as well as potential delivery models)

Detailed operational plan and implementation plan for the self-test deployment strategy through a consultation process in the country

Supporting the drafting of Global Fund grant documents with the inclusion of catalytic fund activities for self-testing