LINKAGES Quarterly Report (July 1 to September 30, 2018) - CAMBODIA

The project provides technical assistance to the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD (NCHADS) to support the implementation of the Consolidated Community Action Approach (CAA) and Partner Notification, Tracing and Testing (PNTT) services. During the reporting period, the LINKAGES team conducted three training of trainers (ToT) on CAA and PNTT for core trainers from 18 provinces. The training focused on skills building and capacity development of the trainers to enable them to provide step-down training on CAA and PNTT to all ART sites. The main training topics included the conceptual framework of CAA, operationalizing the Identify-Reach, Intention-Retention (IRIR) strategy, and implementation arrangements for community action. The ToT trainings were conducted in Kampong Cham, Kampot, and Siem Reap provinces, with a total of 125 participants from 18 provinces. The participants were satisfied with the training and felt the benefit from the training received. The majority of participants applied themselves well in improving the knowledge and skills required for conducting echo-training on CAA and PNTT implementation. After the ToT trainings, the core trainers from four PEPFAR priorities provinces conducted pre-training within their own provinces to discuss the CAA/PNTT step-down training schedule and tailor the training curriculum and materials for their own provinces. Five step-down trainings were conducted in three provinces, including two in Phnom Penh, two in Battambang, and one in Banteay Meanchey. The trainees included operational district (OD) directors, case management coordinators, clinicians, data entry personnel, counselors, community action counselors, community action workers, facility-based workers, and adolescence case counselors. The LINKAGES project also conducted a rapid assessment of freelance entertainment workers (EW) access to health services, which revealed that EWs face significant barriers in accessing health services, including lack of awareness about available services, fear of stigma, and limited access to transportation. The project also developed a concept note for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and conducted the data collection for HIV counseling, testing, and ART service directory. In addition, the project trained implementing partners on national prevention database using District Health Information System 2 (DHIS 2) system and finalized the patient satisfaction feedback (PSF) tools and trainings to anti-retroviral (ART) sites. The project also developed a transgender (TG) competent services guide and conducted the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Stigma Index 2.0 stakeholder workshop and trained core trainers on Health4All promoting Key Population (KP) friendly and competent services. The LINKAGES project has made significant progress in scaling up CAA and PNTT services in Cambodia, with a total of 163 participants trained on CAA and PNTT step-down training. The project has also integrated ICT activities and findings into the program and developed a concept note for PrEP. The project continues to work towards achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals by 2020.