Explore the programme areas through which FPD has contributed to HIV prevention, key population health, clinical services and health systems strengthening.
Key Population Programme
HARMIess – People Who Inject Drugs
The HARMIess programme used a peer-led harm reduction approach to improve access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and support services for people who inject drugs (PWID).
Services were implemented in Tshwane, Gauteng, and Ehlanzeni, Mpumalanga, using community outreach and peer engagement to reach people who may experience barriers to conventional healthcare services.
Comprehensive Service Package
- HIV testing services
- Key population prevention services
- ART initiation and treatment support
- PrEP initiation and continuation
- Opioid substitution therapy
- Needle and syringe distribution and return
- Peer-led outreach and linkage to care
HARMIess Programme Outcomes
Harm Reduction in Practice
The programme worked with peers from the PWID community and used outreach to connect clients to services, reduce health risks and support continuity of care.
- Peer-led community outreach
- HIV testing and linkage to treatment
- ART and PrEP adherence support
- Viral load testing and suppression campaigns
- Harm reduction information and education
- Support for reporting human rights violations
FPD also worked with Jive Media on information and education materials and with Mainline International on peer training and harm reduction resources.
Key Population Programme
STIR – Seek, Test, Initiate and Retain
The STIR programme supported HIV prevention, testing and treatment services for men who have sex with men (MSM), using community service organisations, digital mobilisation and accessible service delivery.
FPD worked with CareWorks and community service organisations to provide direct services, case management and e-pharmacy support.
Programme Components
- Community-based HIV services
- National social media mobilisation
- HIV self-screening test distribution
- PrEP and ART referrals and initiation
- Call-centre and case management support
- Digital access through the STIR website
Digital outreach included Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Grindr, supported by information materials developed with input from the MSM community.
STIR Implementation
Community and Digital Access
The programme was implemented through community service organisations in four districts:
- Dr Kenneth Kaunda – North West
- Ngaka Modiri Molema – North West
- Sedibeng – Gauteng
- Nkangala – Mpumalanga
CareWorks supported service delivery through an e-pharmacy model, call-centre services and distribution of HIV self-screening kits.
The approach was designed to make prevention and treatment services more accessible to MSM, including individuals who may face barriers to accessing traditional services.
National Technical Support
Above-Site PrEP Support to NDoH
FPD was appointed by CDC and USAID to support the procurement and supply of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to PEPFAR partner sites nationally.
Following approval from the National Department of Health, FPD procured PrEP at state tender contract prices and coordinated distribution to registered facilities for collection by partner sites.
Key Activities
- PrEP procurement and supply coordination
- Order processing for partner facilities
- Storage and distribution arrangements
- Stock management and safety stock planning
- Pharmacy support and technical advice
- Demand planning and forecasting
Supply Chain Support
PrEP Distribution and Pharmacy Support
FPD worked with distribution partners to coordinate the storage and supply of PrEP to CDC and USAID partner facilities.
Pharmacy support included on-site visits to partner facilities, monitoring compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice and providing advice on stock forecasting and demand planning.
The programme also supported the procurement of buffer stock to help protect against interruptions in supply.
National Programme Support
High Transmission Area Programme
FPD provided technical assistance to strengthen the National Department of Health's High Transmission Area (HTA) programme, later referred to as the Key Population Health Implementation Plan (KP-HIP).
The work supported the development of programme guidance, implementation tools and the capacity of healthcare workers to provide appropriate services to key populations.
Areas of Support
- Development and refinement of KP-HIP guidelines
- Standard Operating Procedures
- Peer educator job descriptions
- Key population sensitisation training
- Monitoring and evaluation support
- National and provincial stakeholder engagement
Capacity Development
Key Population Sensitisation
In response to COVID-19 restrictions, FPD adapted the existing key population sensitisation competency development toolkit into an e-learning course.
Training was delivered through face-to-face and online methods to support government employees in strengthening their understanding and provision of key population services.
FPD also facilitated stakeholder engagements to gather input and support the development of key population centres of excellence in priority provinces.
Clinical Capacity Development
Advanced Clinical Care
FPD and Wits RHI were jointly mandated to deliver national Advanced Clinical Care (ACC) master training for trainers, supporting healthcare providers to identify, assess and manage patients requiring advanced HIV clinical care.
The programme was designed to build a network of trained master trainers who could cascade further training across districts.
Training Approach
- Structured ACC curriculum and modules
- Master trainer development
- Online learning through the NDoH Knowledge Hub
- Live virtual facilitation sessions
- Summative assessments and CPD accreditation
- Cascaded training for healthcare workers
Clinical Training Support
Building Sustainable Clinical Capacity
FPD worked with Wits RHI and other technical partners to support the delivery of the ACC master training programme.
The online learning approach enabled additional delegates to participate and allowed recorded facilitation sessions to remain available for revision and future learning cohorts.
Referral pathway mapping was also completed to support the identification of receiving and referring facilities, healthcare worker capacity and patient pathways.
Adherence Communication
Zenzele – The Future Is Ours
Zenzele is an adherence communication programme developed to support people living with HIV and encourage treatment adherence and retention in care.
FPD supported the National Department of Health with communication materials promoting the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) message.
Communication Activities
- Updating the Zenzele website
- Developing and updating information pamphlets
- Video-based communication
- Radio campaigns
- Social media campaigns
- Public awareness and adherence messaging
Digital and Community Engagement
Reaching Communities with U=U
The Zenzele programme used a combination of digital communication, radio and educational materials to increase awareness of HIV treatment and adherence.
The website, pamphlets and video content were supported by a radio and social media campaign during September 2021.
The programme built on earlier adherence communication work and the Zenzele brand, which was developed to make HIV adherence messaging accessible to communities.
