Multisectoral HIV/AIDS prevention in Eastern Cape

active

The project is to be carried out in the Eastern Cape province. It is aimed in particular at young women who live in suburban (partly informal) settlements in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality/BCMM district (primary target group). Other possible target areas are the OR Tambo administrative district and/or Nelson Mandela Bay. Since dual infection with HIV and increasingly drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) as well as the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a growing health problem, especially among the poorer sections of the population in South Africa, a multi-sectoral prevention approach is being pursued to prevent these diseases, which targets a comprehensive mix of currently recognized prevention measures at a specific target group in a geographically defined micro-epidemic in BCMM. This approach includes both biomedical interventions and measures aimed at behavioral change and improving structural challenges (e.g. gender-based violence, GBV, lack of job prospects). Depending on the results of an inventory to be carried out at the start of the project (including incidence mapping), other high-risk groups - such as prison inmates and sex workers - can also be included. The module objective is (i) a positive change in risk behavior, (ii) increased use of preventive (and curative) health services in relation to HIV, STI and TB, and (iii) strengthening the self-efficacy of young women. The project thus contributes to the overarching program objective of German development cooperation (reduction of new HIV infections in the intervention areas). The recipient is the Republic of South Africa, represented by the National Department of Health, with implementation to be delegated to the South African foundation DG Murray Trust (DGMT). As the project sponsor, DGMT is also providing a financial contribution of around EUR 1 million and will also bear material and personnel costs of an estimated EUR 700,000. The German contribution from FC funds amounts to EUR 12 million with an estimated project duration of 3 years. The multi-sectoral and at the same time regionally focused approach represents a pilot project for South Africa, which, at the request of the NDoH, is to be expanded to other districts and/or measures if it is successfully implemented and evidence is provided (VPT over EUR 20 million).