EpiC Quarterly Report (July–September 2020) - KPIF West Africa

The project's objective was to improve the validity of targets set for HIV prevention and treatment programs for key populations (KPs) and provide technical assistance to UNAIDS and the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) for the Stigma Index Survey 2.0. In Togo and Burkina Faso, the project achieved over 100% of its targets, while Mali achieved over 94% of its targets for all populations. The surge plans focusing on extensive partner mentorship and coaching combined with targeted testing for increased case finding and treatment initiation led to this overall success. Ghana initiated the first PrEP clients in the country, demonstrating national leadership to take policy to on-the-ground implementation through a collaborative approach. Regional activities were led by Johns Hopkins University (JHU), which provided strategic information support to the six West Africa USAID missions. The objective was to improve the validity of targets set for HIV prevention and treatment programs for KPs. Presentations on updated Small Area Estimations (SAEs) per country were given to both USAID mission staff and national level stakeholders to provide an overview on existing data, data quality, methodology used for analysis, and results. Key updates were provided on strategic information, stigma index, and coordination. In Ghana, revisions and discussions with the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) on the proposed technical assistance proposal on epidemic appraisal were ongoing. In Liberia, contact was made with the KPIF focal point to discuss next steps and support understanding of existing national size estimates to better inform approach for SAE. In Senegal, a meeting was held with the National Council for the Fight against AIDS (CNLS), EpiC Senegal, Neema, and Enda Santé to present on updated SAE results and key activities. The project also provided coordination and implementation support, including monthly updates, weekly meetings with USAID/OHA technical advisor, coordination and calls with USAID Missions as needed, and virtual technical assistance in program quality, strategic information, and program management. In the next three months (October-December 2020), priority activities included holding a regional meeting with all West Africa KPIF missions to share results of SI TA and how data can be used in COP22 planning, capacity development opportunities will also be discussed. In Ghana, work will be done with GAC points of contact to develop a work plan and implement technical support scope of work, and clarify source methodological details in an upcoming call with GAC. In Liberia, follow-up will be done on specific methodologies of PSE cited in the 2018 integrated biological and behavioral survey (IBBS) to inform extrapolation, present details of quality assessment results in a call, and follow up on data sharing agreement. In Senegal, work will be done on monitoring group TDRs with KPIF focal point, refine current estimates for all 14 regions. In Mali, a meeting will be scheduled with the Ministry of Health (MOH) through EpiC to discuss SAE methods and levels of extrapolation needed. In Togo, refinement will be done on extrapolation based on data availability, and a follow-up meeting will be scheduled with CNLS and other partners. In Burkina Faso, follow-up will be done on meeting request, and activities will be presented to national stakeholders. In general, a new format will be developed for capacity-building workshop given the COVID-19 context. The Ghana program made significant progress in Q4 with PrEP implementation starting in August. The start date was partly due to the lack of commodities available to begin implementation. PrEP technical assistance commenced in April with the engagement of the first PrEP and HIVST Implementation Committee, led by NACP and Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC). Virtual stakeholder meetings were held to draft the PrEP ABC Implementation Guide for the jump-start strategy. The implementation committee has met monthly since April to discuss start-up activities, commodity planning, data, and lessons learned in PrEP implementation. HIV self-testing (HIVST) implementation was also planned and discussed. Through the KPIF implementation committee, WHO agreed to sponsor a consultant to complete and validate the HIVST implementation guide. KPIF shared the drafted implementation guide with NACP and the consultants to integrate into their version. KPIF also organized virtual consultations with KP partners on HIVST so their views and ideas could be incorporated into the draft. KPIF received approval from NACP to procure HIVST kits for PEPFAR program implementation. To begin PrEP implementation, KPIF led the National PrEP Master Training of Trainers, organized site-level step-down trainings, and supported the adoption of PrEP implementation tools. Undetectable=untransmittable (U=U) communication materials were finalized and approved by GAC. KPIF also started the fourth activity on structural interventions and finalized the third subagreement with West