USAID HIV Support in Papua New Guinea Annual Implementation Plan FY 2019

The Activity will be guided by the National STI and HIV Strategy 2018-2022 and will focus on key populations, including men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and sex workers. The Activity's vision is that by 2022, a strong and resilient national health system will support the delivery of HIV, STI, and GBV services that incorporate institutionalized models, best practices, tools, and strategies. The public health system will be complemented by a high-capacity civil society that contributes to HIV epidemic control and employs an attentive approach to addressing the way unequal gender norms negatively affect the HIV response. The Activity's strategic objectives are to support the Government's work to roll out Test and Start and viral load testing in the National Capital District and nationwide, provide technical assistance to develop sustainable HIV, STI, and GBV prevention and service delivery models for key populations, and support improved data collection and use at the national and provincial levels. The Activity's pillars are providing technical assistance to national and subnational government offices, civil society organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and faith-based organizations; incorporating gender considerations in all programming; using a quality assurance/quality improvement framework to achieve change in practice, attitude, and behavior; working in partnership with other stakeholders to maximize efforts and leverage resources; using data to implement evidence-based interventions; and operating within approved national policies and guidelines to bolster change in line with the Government of Papua New Guinea's priorities. The Activity's key interventions for Fiscal Year 2019 will aim to support the National Department of Health in scaling up Test and Start and introducing same-day antiretroviral therapy initiation, support the National Department of Health in scaling up viral load testing services in the National Capital District, Lae, and Mount Hagen, facilitate the implementation of the National GBV Strategy 2016-2025, and support the National Department of Health and the National Capital District Health Service in strengthening data management and reporting on key populations, HIV, and GBV. The Activity will also focus on restructuring positions, recruiting additional staff, and visiting Activity sites in the Western Highlands province and Morobe to introduce the project, identify specific activity areas, and develop a memorandum of understanding with key stakeholders. The Activity will employ different HIV testing modalities, develop and use relevant standard operating procedures and protocols for quality service delivery, and implement the Index Client Partner Testing pilot.