BACKGROUND
Strengthening Civil Society for Improved HIV & AIDS and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) service delivery in Uganda (SCIPHA) is a project which Commenced early 2011, and is being implemented by a consortium comprising of the JCRC and Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG) in 5 regions of Uganda (West Nile, North, Central, Mid-west, and Eastern) with a total of 19 districts. JCRC serves as the prime, with the responsibility of coordinating the implementation of the project. In the implementation of the project, the consortium complements each other based on the unique competencies, niche and experiences of each organization in the provision of quality HIV prevention, Care, treatment and support services. Particularly, UHMG leads on HIV prevention by creating demand and uptake of HIV service & products while JCRC leads on Care, Treatment, and quality assurance at all levels.The consortium adopted a lead agency model that involves working through existing district and community structures such as the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector health providers, Village health teams, AIDS coordination committees focusing on the Most at Risk Populations (MARPs) such as Truckers, Fisher-folk, Commercial Sex workers, as well as the OVC and People Living with HIV& AIDS. To enhance effective participation of the stakeholders, the consortium operates through district coordination structures in the targeted districts. Although the consortium works in collaboration in the implementation of the project, UHMG oversees the operations in the two regions of central and West Nile comprising of 8 districts of Moyo, Koboko, Arua, Nebbi, Kalangala, Mpigi, Mityana, Kiboga, while JCRC oversees and coordinate the activities in the Northern, Mid-western and Eastern regions comprarising 11 districts of Gulu, Lira, Amolatar, Katakwi, Soroti, Tororo, Kabarole, Bundibugyo, Kasese, Hoima, Masindi. This arrangement aimed at leveraging resources and is based on the partnerships and presence of each consortium members in the targeted districts.
The project serves to increase access and utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support services; strengthen quality of HIV prevention, care and treatment services; establish effective referrals, linkages and partnerships for comprehensive HIV services; and enhance the capacity of ten CSF-funded organizations to deliver quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services. The expected outputs of the project include:
SCIPHA PHASE I OBJECTIVES
- Ten CSOs supported to implement comprehensive HIV prevention, Care, treatment and support services
- Thirty eight Sub-county Health facilities supported to provide HIV prevention, care, and treatment and support services
- Community Structures supported to increase demand and uptake of HIV products and services
- Nineteen district institutions oriented to national standards, policies, tools for delivery of quality HIV services.
- Quality Assurance systems of Nineteen CSOs strengthened
- CSO/institutions supported to establish collaborative partnerships, referral and linkages in the provision of comprehensive HIV and AIDS services
- Capacity of ten CSF organizations built to deliver quality HIV services
SCIPHA PHASE I OBJECTIVES
Objective 1: To increase access and utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support services in the 19 focus districts by the end of May 2012
Objective 2: To strengthen quality of HIV prevention, care and treatment services offered by at least 10 CSOs in the 19 districts by June 2012
Objective 3: To establish effective referrals, linkages and partnerships for comprehensive HIV services within the 19 selected districts by 2012
Objective 4: Build capacity of CSO CSF funded organizations to deliver quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services
SCIPHA PHASE II OBJECTIVES
Objective I: To increase access and utilization of HIV prevention services in the 19 focus districts by the end of December 2013.
Objective II: To increase access and utilization of HIV/AIDS care, treatment and support services to adults, adolescents and children living with HIV/AIDS in targeted communities by the end of December 2013.
Objective III: To establish effective referrals, linkages and partnerships for comprehensive HIV services within the 19 selected districts by December 2013.
Objective IV: To build capacity of 6 CSF funded CSOs and 19 SCIPHA sub grantee CSOs to deliver Quality HIV Prevention, care and treatment services by the end of December 2013.
Objective V: To address the underlying socio-cultural, gender based and other structural drivers of the HIV epidemic in the 19 SCIPHA districts.
