This application is responsive to HRSA 22-160. The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Global Health Consortium (HBCU-GHC/Consortium) work in Zambia and Malawi is consistent with the purposes described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Our program outcomes are aligned with 1) leveraging health service equity approaches for sustainable HIV epidemic control in Zambia and Malawi; 2) developing and expanding of unique platforms to bring best practices from domestic experiences to assist the global HIV/AIDS program to sustain the goal of reaching epidemic control in Zambia, Malawi, and other PEPFAR-supported countries”; and 3) the continuing and implementing of HIV person-centered programs that are innovative and transformative in the provision of clinical care. Additionally, our history as HBCUs demonstrates our expertise in training adolescents, girls, and young women (AGYW) in the DREAMS model as health surveillance assistants in Malawi. The mission of the Consortium is to support the Ministry of Health in Zambia, Malawi and other PEPFAR countries to address the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets through the optimization of person-family-centered health care. The Consortium has designed, developed, and implemented synergistic initiatives in Zambia and now Malawi, it has held two sub-awards over the last five years with: 1) American International Health Alliance (2017-2019) and HW 21-Jhpiego (2019-2022). Both organizations acted in fiscal intermediary role. All program initiatives were carried out by the Consortium. HBCU-GHC addresses HIV affecting adults, adolescents, girls, young women, and mothers and babies in Zambia and will conduct a secondary education training program in Malawi to improve the economic impact on the lives of AGYW. There are four (4) black medical schools who are the members of the consortium 1) Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, California; 2) Howard University School of Medic
ine, Washington, DC (HU); 3) Meharry Medical College (MMC), Nashville, Tennessee and 4) Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Atlanta, Georgia. The Consortium operates in three (3) provinces (Copperbelt, Lusaka and Southern) and in 45 facilities. The intent of the application is to demonstrate strategies and approaches that will reduce discrimination, stigma, and economic impact on persons and families affected by HIV. Its programs and initiatives address prevention of HIV in Key populations (KPs) stigma, discrimination, health disparities, access, utilization and case management and advancing health equity, sustainability through training, and cultural competency in person care including prevention and treatment. Using integrated models across four flagship hospital facilities (Matero, Chilenje, Kanyama, and Chawama) health centers and health posts. The Consortium has a presence in 23 health facilities across Lusaka, of which 13 are direct service delivery sites, and ten are technical assistance sites, eighteen drop-in centers, mobile hotspot outreach, and supported Key Population (KP)-friendly public facilities. Our strategies and approaches include implementing wraparound HIV services for adults, moms, children, adolescents and young women, community engagement, ensuring facilities have well-trained and supervised health care workers to provide KP-friendly and sensitive clinical services, using KP (Key Populations) lay personnel, such as mentor moms, community health workers, peer educators and HIV positive peer navigators to reach KPs; and providing direct service delivery to beneficiaries in the community. In Malawi, the Consortium will continue to coordinate with KP communities, the MoH, PEPFAR, and the local governmental agencies in (Blantyre, Machinga, and Zomba) to offer AGYW training in HIV, replicated from successful AGYW programming in Zambia at supported sites to facilitate the provision of friendly and respectful integrated KP services.