GH 001629: Support for Strengthening and Utilization of Strategic Information Activities in the RSA under PEPFAR
Abstract
This application by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) responds to the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number CDC-RFA-GH15-1576 titled ,Support for Strengthening and Utilization of Strategic Information Activities in the Republic of South Africa under the President, Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by PEPFAR and the USAs Department of Health and Human Services.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC). The proposed programme will provide accurate, timely, and high-quality strategic information for the monitoring and tracking of the HIV epidemic in South Africa , allocate resources for targeted interventions among HIV-affected and key populations, and ultimately ease the burden on the health system by reducing the number of new HIV infections. The programmes goals and objectives are to strengthen the capacity to collect and use strategic information to monitor and improve HIV/AIDS and interventions with the ultimate aim of reducing the number of new HIV infections among the general and high-risk populations, as well as key populations, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people and people who inject drugs. Although identified as the sole eligible applicant, the HSRC will collaborate with the South African government and several other organisations including CDC South Africa to ensure maximum collaboration and non-duplication of efforts, and efficient use of resources. The proposed programme will last for 5 years and consist of two activities as specified in the FOA with several sub-activities using different methodologies. Activity One will collect and provide strategic information for HIV programme planning, including but not limited to the design and conduct of survey, surveillance, and evaluation activities in collaboration with the South African Government (SAG) and CDC/PEPFAR South Africa (SA). Among the specific proposed four sub-activities, inter alia, are: a) undertake additional analysis of data from the 2012 South African National HIV Population-Based Household Surveys (SABSSM4); b) undertake the next South African National HIV Population-Based Household Surveys in 2015/2016 (SABSSM5); c) undertake an in-depth qualitative study to understand the HIV vulnerability of ???Black African??? South African women (aged 15-34 years) and men (aged 25-49 years) living in urban informal townships in three provinces of South Africa and inform interventions targeting these groups; and d) design, implement, and evaluate a maternal and infant mortality surveillance (MIMMS) system for South Africa. Activity Two will design and conduct surveillance, evaluation and implementation science activities among HIV-affected and key populations to build evidence for policy and intervention development and implementation in collaboration with the SAG and CDC/PEPFAR SA. Current activities focusing on key populations will continue under the current cooperative agreement, but new activities such as an adaptation and implementation of a stigma index for key populations, undertaking HIV bio-behavioural surveys using respondent-driven sampling among MSM in various cities and towns in South Africa will be selected by the HSRC and CDC/PEPFAR SA in response to the needs of the South African government. Close collaboration with the SAG and other local organizations will result in capacity and skills development, and initial development of a culture of surveillance among South Africans. Finally, gathering, analysing and disseminating reliable and data will reduce the burden of the HIV epidemic through increased development of targeted interventions that will reduce the number of new HIV infections, and ease the HIV burden on the South African health system.
