Programs

The goal of the IMPACT Project in Eritrea is to provide technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the Eritrean Ministry of Health (MOH) and its partners to prevent, control and mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS/STI epidemic in the country.

This goal is being achieved through a partnership between the USAID/IMPACT Project and the MOH, in collaboration with other organizations in Eritrea that are carrying out HIV/AIDS/STI activities.

The technical pillars of the FHI/Eritrea program are:

• voluntary counseling and testing (VCT)
• home- and community-based care and support
• sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention and treatment
• HIV/AIDS clinical care
• targeted interventions for most-at-risk populations (sex workers, the military, youth)
• behavior change communication (BCC)
• strategic planning/monitoring, evaluation and surveillance

What FHI is Doing in Eritrea

Behavior Change Communication

Through its partnership with PATH, FHI/Eritrea has provided technical leadership and capacity building with respect to HIV/AIDS/STI and TB BCC. Staff have worked closely with the Health Promotion Center of the MOH on the development and implementation of Eritrea's national communication strategy for HIV/AIDS/STI, Winning Through Caring. FHI has provided training to MOH staff on peer facilitation and interpersonal communication regarding HIV, as well as training for theater groups on HIV stigma reduction. 

FHI/Eritrea is currently involved in the production of a radio serial drama on HIV, which will be launched in late 2004. In addition to helping the MOH maximize the technical caliber of its BCC work, FHI is also working to cultivate a local appreciation for on-going assessment of progress towards BCC results. For example, FHI, with assistance from PATH, hosted a workshop on participatory BCC monitoring.

Strategic Planning/Monitoring, Evaluation and Surveillance

FHI has been a vital player in enabling the government of Eritrea to generate timely and quality seroprevalence data. In 2003, FHI/Eritrea assisted the MOH in re-establishing HIV ANC sentinel surveillance. Prior to 2003, the most recent attempt to estimate HIV seroprevalence was in 2001 (through a national seroprevalence and risk groups survey conducted by the MOH). The last round of ANC sentinel surveillance was conducted in 1999. With subsequent rounds of sentinel surveillance, the country will finally have access to trend data. This data will help the government and its stakeholders to make accurate assessments regarding the status of the epidemic and take informed, appropriate and timely action.

Additionally, FHI has provided technical expertise in the planning, analysis and dissemination of a behavioral surveillance survey (BSS) focused on sex workers and other women found in high-risk areas throughout Eritrea.

FHI is also providing technical assistance in the development of a National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for HIV/AIDS/STI and TB. FHI is currently implementing an intensive, two-year strategy to strengthen monitoring and evaluation (M&E), strategic planning and surveillance capacity in the country.

Other illustrative accomplishments of the FHI/Eritrea country program include:

• technical support in the establishment, improvement, and scale-up of VCT services
• support to the National HIV/AIDS/STI and TB Control Division of the MOH in advancing the HIV/AIDS community- and home-based care and support agenda
• technical support in establishing national antiretroviral drug (ARV) policies, guidelines and action plans
• continuous technical support in program design, program management and resource mobilization
• technical assistance to the government of Eritrea in preparing its successful Round III HIV/AIDS application to the Global Fund