Regional Minimum Standards and Brand for HIV and other Health Services along the Road Transport Corridors in the SADC Region: Executive Summary

The standards harmonize prevention, treatment, and care provided throughout the region's transport corridors, starting from the existing Cross Border Initiative roadside wellness centers. These standards seek to complement existing services, guiding SADC Member States and implementers to more effectively target high-risk geographic areas and improve the quality and reach of current HIV prevention and health services to meet the needs of long distance truck drivers and sex workers. The RMSB emphasizes the specific needs of long distance truck drivers and sex workers, and aligns to existing global and regional standards, guidelines, and frameworks for disease prevention, diagnosis, and management. The standards outline a minimum package of services and appropriate service delivery models, defining roles and responsibilities for key stakeholders, including SADC Secretariat, Member States, the private sector, employer and workers' organisations, academic/research institutions, donors/international cooperating partners, and the media. The RMSB advocate for improved access to prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services for various conditions, including communicable diseases such as HIV, TB, and STIs, non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and other conditions such as sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning and cervical cancer screening and referral, and occupational health-related conditions. The implementation of the RMSB is expected to significantly enhance the quality and reach of prevention and treatment services to vulnerable populations in the region. The RMSB was approved by the SADC Council of Ministers of Health in November 2015 and is supported by the African Strategies for Health project (ASH), funded by the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Africa and implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH). The standards are available at www.sadc.int. The implementation of the RMSB is expected to strengthen regional and national partnerships among relevant ministries, the private sector, donors, and civil society in the delivery of health services to these populations. The RMSB addresses management mechanisms, including financing, quality assurance, and monitoring and evaluation to facilitate sound and sustainable implementation. The standards are expected to improve access to prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services for long distance truck drivers and sex workers, who are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV and other health issues due to high levels of mobility, poor access to health services, and limited coordination of service providers along the transport corridors.