Sustainable HIV Response in
Central America Project
The Sustainable HIV Response in Central America project is part of the Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS) 2015-2019 and from the Regional Operational Plan for HIV (ROP 20-21) which aims to support Central American countries towards a politically and financially sustainable technical stage, in order to contain the HIV epidemic and meet the established “95-95-95” goals for the year 2030.
The Project implements its actions in four countries in the region: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama.
Objetive 1. Organizational Strengthening of FANCAP
USAID selected FANCAP as an organization to strengthen institutionally and turn into a local partner in the implementation of projects within the framework of PEPFAR. USAID carried out an analysis of FANCAP’s organizational capacity to conduct projects and manage financial resources, following a methodology for the evaluation of Non-US Organizations prior to receiving an award (NUPAS for its acronym in English), and on that basis an organizational strengthening plan for FANCAP was developed, the following activities were included:
a) Strengthen technical capacity for financial and administrative management of projects
b) Strengthen FANCAP’s Operating Infrastructure
c) Develop the implementation of Policies, Processes and Procedures
d) Human Resources training and development
e) Monitoring and Evaluation
f) Strengthening of working relationships with institutions in the countries covered by the project
Objective 2. Provide support to SE-COMISCA to position NC COMISCA® to improve access to medicines
The countries of the Central American region have committed to adopt the WHO guidelines for the treatment of HIV; including, among other actions, the investment of resources and the promotion of the procurement of medication at reduced costs*.
To comply with this commitment, there are different mechanisms that countries can use; these include the mechanism developed by SE-COMISCA for the procurement of drugs, laboratory reagents and other supplies which is called COMISCA® Joint Negotiation.
Acknowledging the financial, logistical and technical benefits of the mechanism; the project proposes to support SE-COMISCA, leader and coordinator of the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation, in improving the positioning of the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation, in four countries of the region (El Salvador , Guatemala, Honduras and Panama), through the execution of the following actions:
1. Develop an advocacy plan and its implementation strategy that allows the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation to become the preferential regional mechanism for the acquisition of medicines and strategic supplies for the response to HIV.
2. Develop actions to establish a roadmap to execute the first purchase of antiretroviral drugs and laboratory tests for the response to HIV carried out through the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation.
3. Support health institutions in the implementation of administrative procedures for the procurement of medicines and other strategic supplies for the treatment of HIV through the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation
* Sustainability Strategy of the progress of Central America and the Dominican Republic towards universal access to prevention, care, treatment, and support related to HIV within the framework of the Call to Action on HIV Continuum of Care, Prevention and Treatment and the 90 90 90 2016 – 2021 Goals.
Objective 3. Support to the strengthening of Human Rights Organizations in the management of strategies and tools to reduce stigma and discrimination against populations affected by HIV
The Sustainable Response to HIV in Central America project implements actions to support public institutions for the defense of Human Rights to reduce stigma and discrimination of populations who are most vulnerable to HIV transmission; therefore, and with the intention of contributing to the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama, in order to comply with the commitments acquired in the Plan of Action for the prevention and control of HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections 2016-2021 of the World Health Organization (WHO)..
In support of Human Rights institutions, the Project developed a technical assistance plan for each of the human rights institutions, including the following actions: a) a preparatory phase to support human rights institutions in the development of the virtual environment to give training courses; b) elaboration of a route for the expansion of the training of trainers in human rights in government institutions that provide essential services to people living with HIV; c) adaptation to a virtual format of the “Human Rights of the LGBTI population” course with a focus on training institutional trainers; d) support in the implementation and monitoring of the virtual training course for trainers in government institutions.
Leadership
Iván Mendoza
Project Manager
Iván Leiva
Financial & Administrative Manager
Silvia Estrada
Monitoring Advisor
Claudia Roca
Regional Advisor in Logistics and Supply Management
Sandra Ruano
Regional Advisor on Human Rights
Alexia Alvarado
El Salvador Country Advisor
Mónica Palencia
Honduras Country Advisor
Patricia Durango
Panama Country Advisor
Key Partners
Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Health Central America and the Dominican Republic
Human Rights Ombudsman, Guatemala
Ombudsman for the Defense of Human Rights, El Salvador
National Commissioner for Human Rights, Honduras
Office of the Ombudsman, Panama
Guatemala
To improve access to medicines and supplies for the treatment of HIV, the project provides logistical and administrative support to the SE-COMISCA in the implementation of activities with the Ministry of Health of Guatemala and the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security to improve the positioning of the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation.
On the subject of Human Rights, work is being done with the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, specifically with the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman, the Directorate of International Affairs and the Directorate of Education and Development; providing technical assistance for the strengthening of capacities and improvement of the conditions of the institution for the implementation of the virtual training of trainers course in Human Rights of people with HIV and the LGBTI population.
El Salvador
In El Salvador, the Sustainable HIV Response in Central America Project works with the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defense of Human Rights, in particular with the School of Human Rights and the Chief of the HIV Unit, in the implementation of a technical assistance plan for reducing stigma and discrimination against people vulnerable to HIV.
The activities that are implemented supporting the SE-COMISCA logistically and administratively to improve the positioning of the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation and improve access to medicines are developed with officials from the Ministry of Health and the Salvadoran Social Security Institute.
Honduras
In Honduras, the work of the project is carried out in coordination with the National Commissioner of Human Rights of Honduras, the specific counterparts are the National Ombudsman of People with HIV / AIDS and Sexual Diversity; with them the training process in human rights of the LGBTI population with a virtual trainers of trainer approach was followed up. This activity was developed and reviewed in conjunction with the Democratic Culture, Education and Promotion Unit of CONADEH.
In improving access to medicines and other health technologies for HIV care, the project administratively and logistically supports SE-COMISCA in the implementation of activities with the Secretary of Health and the Honduran Institute of Social Security.
Panamá
The Office of the Ombudsman of Panama is the main counterpart of the project for the work in the promotion of Human Rights to reduce stigma and discrimination. Specifically within this unit, technical assistance is coordinated with the Directorate of International Affairs, the Directorate of Education, Promotion and Academic Research and the Directorate of Specialized Units of the Ombudsman’s Office.
Regarding the logistical and administrative support that the project provides to SE-COMISCA to position the COMISCA® Joint Negotiation as the preferential mechanism for the procurement of medicines and other health technologies for HIV care, all planned activities are implemented with the Ministry of Health and the Panamanian Social Security Fund.
Progress in the accomplishment of results
Objective 1
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Objective 2
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Objective 3
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