OECS HIV/TB Elimination Project (HTEP)

The OECS Regional Co-ordinating Mechanism (RCM) was awarded a 3-year grant from April 2016 to March 2019 in the sum of approx. US$5 mil for the prevention and control of HIV and TB in 6 OECS member states which include Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. The Global Fund has approved a further extension of the project for another 3 years from 2019-2022 in the sum of approximately US3.5 mil.

The OECS Commission acting as Principle Recipient (PR) has been charged with the responsibility of implementing the grant through the HIV/TB Elimination project. The six Member States are subrecipients along with the Caribbean Vulnerable Coalition Community (CVC) and Caribbean Med Labs Foundation (CMLF).OECS Member States have signed on to Eliminate HIV by 2030, using UNAIDS/WHO 90-90-90 HIV target.

Beneficiary Countries:

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Goals

  • Reduce the incidence of HIV in accordance with the HIV 90-90-90 targets and achieve TB elimination in accordance with the TB elimination framework for low incidence countries.
  • Services for HIV, TB and STI are sustained, strengthen, available and accessed by key affected populations in the OECS.

Strategies:

  • Implement targeted evidence-based combination prevention strategies for key populations.
  • Implement the TB elimination framework for low incidence countries to accelerate the elimination of TB in the OECS.
  • Increase access to quality laboratory testing, screening and diagnosis for the clinical management of HIV and TB.
  • Integrate TB control programs with HIV services to ensure that comprehensive, high quality care is provided for individuals co-infected with HIV and TB.
  • Improve HIV/STI HMIS to increase the availability of data to support evidence-based planning, measure the impact of the response and the achievement of targets.

Activities:

  • Procurement of condoms and lubricant, materials for HIV/STI testing and support implementation of comprehensive prevention programs for HIV Key Populations (MSM, SW, TG).
  • Procurement of antiretroviral medicines to support scale up and transition to WHO’s “treat all” recommendations.
  • Development and implementation of regional strategies and planning for HIV prevention in Key Populations; ART retention and adherence.
  • Development and alignment of national and regional TB strategic planning and policy adoption and implementation.
  • Scale up of GeneXpert availability and use.
  • Direct engagement with healthcare providers on access for Key Populations, HIV and STIs, HIV/TB and TB.
  • Capacity building for Civil Society Organizations that implement Key Population services.
  • Assessment of readiness for implementation of social contracting models to support sustainability for CSO-led activities.
  • Laboratory and laboratory policy strengthening.

Target Group/Beneficiaries

  • Commercial sex workers
  • Men who have sex with men
  • Transgender persons
  • People living with HIV
  • Youth
  • People with TB, TB/HIV and missing TB cases