The USAID HIV Support in Papua New Guinea project provides technical assistance to the Government of Papua New Guinea to strengthen HIV test-and-start and viral load suppression rates in the National Capital District. Implementing partners include Anglicare Papua New Guinea, Hope Worldwide, Living Light Health Services, The Salvation Army and Catholic Church Health Services.
The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and also works toward the introduction of innovative HIV care models, such as same-day antiretroviral therapy, active case management, implementation of the differentiated care model and creation of demand for viral load testing.
Furthermore, the project provides technical assistance on sustainable prevention interventions for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and gender-based violence (GBV). Strengthening the integration of post-GBV care services in HIV/STI clinics is a key intervention.
The project supports the government in piloting and scaling up family and partner testing, providing efficacious antiretroviral regimens and retaining clients on treatment when they are virally suppressed. The project works at national and sub-national levels in data collection and use for decision-making through means such as a dashboard, data visualization products and real-time monitoring to enable rapid quality improvement.
The project accomplishes its goals through technical assistance that includes:
- Mentoring health care workers in test-and-start and viral load testing
- Supporting the National Department of Health and focal provinces to strengthen guidelines and procedures for test-and-start and viral load testing, with an emphasis on the inclusion of key populations (sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender people)
- Supporting the government to strengthen the implementation of the national GBV strategy, with an emphasis on HIV, key population and GBV issues
- Supporting the government in strengthening clinical standard operating procedures for HIV, key population and GBV service delivery
- Improving community-based activities aimed at reducing societal acceptance of GBV
- Supporting the National Department of Health and focal provinces to strengthen HIV, key population and GBV data management and reporting
