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URC Awarded Contract to Increase Access to HIV/AIDS Health Care Services in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland

The Centers for Disease Control has awarded URC a five-year project entitled "Increasing Access to HIV Confidential Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and Enhancing HIV/AIDS Communications, Prevention and Care in the Republics of Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa.” The project, valued at $30 million, is intended to build progressively an indigenous, sustainable response to the national HIV epidemics in the three countries through the rapid expansion of innovative, culturally appropriate, high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention and care interventions.

Led by URC, the project team is comprised of The Health Systems Trust of South Africa, EnCompass World, the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD), and the Swaziland AIDS Support Organization (SASO). The project employs a strategy based on PEPFAR’s “ABC” approach (A. Abstinence for youth, B. Being tested for HIV and being faithful, and C. Correct and consistent use of condoms). The team will work to strengthen the capacity of community- and faith-based organizations (CBOs/FBOs) and public health institutions to expand access to high quality counseling and testing and other HIV/AIDS services.

The project will employ a two-pronged strategy to increase access to VCT and HIV/AIDS health services: 1) Implement behavior change and social marketing interventions to create demand for VCT services; and 2) Improve the quality of services provided by community- and faith-based service delivery groups. The URC project team will also work with CBOs/FBOs and public institutions to develop mobile and community-based VCT services as well as to establish referral and follow-up mechanisms to ensure that HIV-positive clients receive appropriate treatment and psycho-social support.

For more information on the project please contact Director Dr. Refiloe Matji at rmatji@urc-chs.com.

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