Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Thailand Performance Report FY19Q2

The project, supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), aimed to sustain the technical assistance (TA) platform for key population-led health services (KPLHS) in Thailand. Three key strategic objectives (SOs) guided the project: SO1) to build the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide high-quality KPLHS; SO2) to establish certification systems that allow CBOs to secure public-sector endorsement of KPLHS; and SO3) to mobilize and leverage resources to sustain the KPLHS TA platform. Capacity building for CBOs was a primary focus during the second quarter. Four trainings were provided, targeting CBO staff under the LINKAGES project and the Global Fund-STAR project. The trainings covered topics such as STI screening and treatment medication dispensing, basic knowledge on HIV and other related infections, and HIV counseling. Evaluation results showed high participant satisfaction and significant knowledge gains among trainees. Additionally, the project initiated the development of training materials for self-testing, counseling and referral for people who use drugs, and disease progression in non-communicable diseases. The Training and Certification Committee approved the certification assessment process in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018. Two pilot assessments were conducted in December 2018 and January 2019 to trial the assessment tools and process. Based on committee recommendations, minor revisions were made to the tools and assessment process. Competency assessments for community health workers (CHWs) who have passed both theoretical and practical requirements for certification will commence in June 2019. Advocacy efforts continued to promote policy change and establish certification systems for CHWs. The project worked closely with key policy actors and stakeholders to legalize CHWs to deliver KPLHS and develop a manual of standards for HIV and STI service delivery and competencies of CHWs. The manual was completed and launched to related stakeholders from concern provinces on March 14, 2019. Following a formal policy dialogue with the Minister of Ministry of Public Health in November 2018, the Minister demonstrated his commitment and support by announcing the revision of MOPH regulations before the election in March 2019. The project, leading by the Director of TRCARC and the Chief of PREVENTION, TRCARC, held meetings with the Director General of Department of Disease Control, MOPH, related organizations, and professional councils to speed up drafting the MOPH Regulation. By the end of the quarter, the working draft of MOPH Regulation was proposed to the Permanent Secretary Office of MOPH for further consideration. In terms of demand creation for resource mobilization to sustain the TA platform, the project continued to promote and brand the TA platform and its products/services through different channels, including meetings with potential buyers, conducting technical seminars, and posting progress and activities on the project's Facebook fan-page. The project, in collaboration with Pattaya City, the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 6, and the Chonburi Provincial Public Health Office, organized the technical seminar "Pattaya, Fast Track City in Ending AIDS" in February to motivate key agencies working in areas where HIV is an important issue to accelerate HIV interventions to end AIDS by the target year 2030. The project was granted 294,000 THB from Raks Thai Foundation to train staff from CBOs under the GF-STAR project in March, marking a good start for the project in leveraging resources from other funding to support the TA platform's activities.