Solthis Therapeutic Solidarity and Initiatives for Health

GUINEACAPACITY BUILDINGHEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMHUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTHLABORATORIES AND TECHNICAL PLATFORMSSTRENGTHENING SYSTEMS AND HEALTH SERVICESFighting HIV / AIDS

Context

As part of the implementation of funding from the Global Fund in Guinea, Solthis has been selected as the sub recipient of CNLS (National Aids Control Committee) for a grant dedicated to “Strengthening and decentralising the national response to the AIDS epidemic in the Republic of Guinea” in order to carry out a range of projects that support the implementation of this programme.

Objectives

The aim of the project is to reduce mortality and illness in adults and children living with HIV by providing better access to treatment, care and support for people living with HIV.

Over 3 years, Solthis will be in charge of carrying out research, training and capacity building of those involved in the treatment of HIV and developing a health information system, pharmacies and laboratories.

The general objective is to support the CNLS in its implementation of the Global Fund grant to strengthen and decentralise the national response to the AIDS epidemic in the Republic of Guinea.

The specific objectives are anticipated to be:

• Provide support in the training of all carers in establishments responsible for treatment nationwide, especially in screening and advice for those caring for both adults and children.
• Carry out 6 studies requested by the CNLS
• Strengthen the organisation and follow up of training on the HIV information system.
• Strengthen procurement and stock management processes
• Ensure that 6 new platforms for newly acquired viral load are set up in Guinea

Expected results

These activities fall under different projects:

Screening project, adult and paediatric treatment

• Creation of a training pack for screening
• Train 4 tutors nationwide in HIV screening
• Train 24 tutors from Guinea's 8 regions in screening
• Training of 840 healthcare providers in DCIS
• Creation of a training pack for all treatment (adult, paediatric, TB/HIV)
• Training of 24 tutors on the aforementioned training pack over 10 days in Conakry
• Training of 504 healthcare providers in the treatment of adult medical HIV and TB over 20 sessions with 25 people in each session, in various regions
• Training of 504 healthcare providers in the treatment of paediatric medical HIV treatment in 20 sessions with 25 people in each session in various regions
• Train 24 staff as supervisors
• Create 4 post training follow ups by 2 supervisors over 14 days.

Study project

• Study 1 – Transmitted and acquired resistance to ARV in Guinea (19 months at 22 treatment sites)
  • Evaluate the level of resistance to ARV in patients infected by HIV that have not yet been treated by ARV drugs
  • Evaluate the level of resistance acquired 9 to 12 months later.
• Study 2 – Resistance profile to TB treatment in patients infected with both TB and HIV (on 200 patients)
• Study 3 – Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in adults and children infected by HIV (on 400 patients)
• Study 4 – Qualitative study on the constraints of family HIV screening proposed in Conakry (individual meetings with patients, carers and community workers)
• Study 5 – Evaluation of the feasibility of giving preventative TB treatment by the National Institute of Health to PLHIV in Conakry:
  • A review of scientific details
  • Exchanges among carers
  • Working groups with different stakeholders involved
• Study 6 – Assessment of the awareness of ART and barriers to awareness in PLHIV taking ARV drugs in Conakry (5 months, with the support of a dozen investigators)
  • Evaluation of the awareness of ART in Conakry
  • Situational analysis of the assessment of current awareness
  • Situational analysis of approaches to support of awareness in Guinea
• Identification of major obstacles causing the lack of awareness of ART

Health information system project

• Organising the review of collection and management tools (HIV) and supervision schedules used on site with a view to integrate them with activities carried out by the National Health Information System
• Setting up of AGIR HIV software in all regions of the country, which will allow stock taking and a deeper analysis of the information given from treatment sites.
• Training of 72 people (DRS and DPS) in group management software use (AGIR HIV) in 3 sessions over 2 days with 24 participants in each region.
• The organisation of post training follow up visits for the group management software training in DRS (2 supervisors over 3 days in each region)

Management and procurement of stocks project

• Revision of the instruction manual for logistics management and follow up of ARV and medications
• Training of 24 tutors in 8 regions (3 per region) in the distribution and management of ARV stocks
• Training of 463 health workers in treatment and PMTCT sites in the distribution and management of HIV and MNCH inputs
• Creation of a national guide for the quantification of ARV, medications and opportunistic infections
• Reproduction of pharmacovigilance documents

Project for the introduction of 6 new platforms for viral load

• Description of the norms and procedures of viral load examinations
• Training of 18 healthcare providers in the HIV viral load technique (12 days in Conakry and 7 days in each of the 6 regions)
• Printing100 copies of the document for norms and procedures from viral load examinations
• Grant for internet connection in 7 new viral load laboratories
• Planning of costs for quality control (internal and external) of tests to measure viral load.

This English translation has been possible thanks to the PerMondo project: Free translation of websites and documents for non-profit organisations. A project managed by Mondo Agit. Translator: Michelle Houghton; Proofreader: Thomas McGuinn.