Background
The US Government has a long history and extensive network of international collaboration and partnerships in the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing funding, technical assistance, and program support. These collaborations increase the fundamental understanding of HIV transmission and provide an evaluative basis for prevention and intervention success. The current HIV/AIDS epidemic is devastating. In order to target high-risk population, the Health Research Center has been tasked to serve as the Executive Agent for the Direct HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP).
DHAPP has successfully engaged over 80 countries in efforts to combat HIV/AIDS among high-risk population. DHAPP is collaborating with the Health and Human Services, Agency for International Development, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Working closely with nongovernmental organizations, DHAPP assists countries in establishing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs and/or strengthening their capabilities to combat HIV.
DHAPP’s goal is to maximize program impact by focusing on the drivers of the epidemic and to support the development of interventions and programs that address these issues. DHAPP works to devise plans based on the following process:
- Meet with key partners in country to determine provisional major program areas and other technical assistance needs.
- Adapt DHAPP support to a country’s need for prevention, care and/or treatment of their HIV/AIDS situation based on an assessment of the country’s epidemic.
- Strengthen the capacity for ownership and behavioral changes over the long term.
- Consider program design by leveraging assets with other country partners who have/had successful prevention, care, and/or treatment efforts.
- Focus on prevention, care and/or treatment impact aligned with national implementation plans.
- Implement and monitor programs to ensure accountability and sustainability.
Countries need strong programs with courses of action that demonstrate:
- Visible support.
- Development of plans of action and policies.
- Alignment with partner country USG funded strategies and priorities.
- Increasing awareness.
- Prevention plans focusing on prevention of sexual transmission through voluntary counseling and testing, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and management, behavioral interventions, reduction of concurrent partnerships, prevention and care of opportunistic infections, male circumcision, changing male normative behaviors, and prevention campaigns.
- Reduction of mother-to-child transmission, (The primary focus of these interventions is on behavior change to reduce the risks of sexual transmission, counseling, testing, diagnosis and proper linkages to care and support).
- Stigma reduction associated with HIV infection.
- Surveillance and infrastructure development through programs focusing on HIV/STI/tuberculosis surveillance, prevalence surveys, laboratory support, monitoring and evaluation, training and strategic information management.
- Increasing capacity building.
- Promoting sustainability by the partner country.
More information about countries in which DHAPP currently operates and existing DHAPP programs can be found by going to the Country Information section.