Thursday, December 26, 2024
12/26/2024
The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) relies on data to guide programmatic priorities and activities for HIV epidemic control in low- and middle-income countries. It is crucial that up-to-date quality surveillance data are available for evidence-based planning. In response to the Centers of Disease Control funding opportunity CDC-RFA-GH22-2248, I-TECH has formed a consortium with local partners called the Malawi Surveillance and Epidemic Preparedness Partnership (MSEPP) to address this need. MSEPP members include I-TECH, the Malawi AIDS Counselling and Resource Organization (MACRO), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS), with I-TECH serving as the Prime. MSEPP strategies and activities will build the capacity of the Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) to implement effective surveillance systems in line with international standards to respond to current and new diseases. Capacity building will be through on-the-job training, applied learning experiences, collaboration on the design and implementation of essential and timely surveillance studies, and seconding staff. Seconded staff, referred to as technical assistants (TAs) will support PHIM and MOH through general organizational and management support activities, such as reviewing and providing strategic support for implementation of PHIM’s strategic plan, supporting development of guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for organizational capacity development and field activities, supporting coordination of PHIM technical working group meetings, and facilitating execution of actions points resulting from such meetings. MSEPP will partner with PHIM for direct implementation of surveillance activities until capacity is built and transition achieved. Within the first year of the award, I-TECH will hold planning meetings with PHIM, MOH, and CDC to develop a roa d map with benchmarks for guiding a gradual but steady transition of most of the surveillance activities to PHIM and MOH by the end of the grant period. The transition plan will be monitored and discussed annually with PHIM, MOH, and CDC to ensure any necessary modifications to the plan and/or capacity building approach are made.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).