AIDSTAR-One/Brazil

AIDSTAR One/Brazil will assist USAID/Brazil by supplying an in-country team of leading public health experts in the application of social technologies to TB control and HIV prevention in Brazil, as well as by conducting focused activities leading to capacity-building and high impact prevention for most-at-risk populations, including prisoners.

Goals

1. Provision of public health leadership through social technologies skill-transfer to the National Program for Tuberculosis Control (PNCT), the Health Surveillance Secretariat STD, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Department (DN), State Secretariats of Heath (Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), and other USG partners for enhanced control of TB, HIV/AIDS and reduced co-infection.

2. Civil society involvement for sustainable access to TB and HIV/AIDS interventions for populations most-at risk of co-infection.

3. Documentation of impact in Brazil and promising practices.

Objectives

1. Application of social technologies in building upon/expanding access to TB (DOTS) and HIV interventions for populations most-at-risk of co-infection.

For this objective, AIDSTAR-One/Brazil will focus on prisons program expansion and improved prisoner access to diagnostics and treatment. Work will be coordinated with USAID partners and integrated with ongoing HIV/AIDS interventions to ensure implementation of best practices toward expanded impact.

2. Capacity building, training, and supervision in social technologies at the national (PNCT) and priority state level (RJ).

AIDSTAR-One/Brazil will build PNCT staff capacity in social technologies, dissemination, and the establishment of an “in-house” Social Technologies Unit for implementing BCC, civil society mobilization, and applied/behavioral research activities. In Rio de Janeiro, AIDSTAR-One/Brazil will supply technical assistance in building capacity and developing BCC strategies and peer-to-peer efforts for TB control and reduced TB and HIV co-infection; implementing BCC and social mobilization strategies; and impact evaluation.

3) Continue support in communication campaign implementation and impact evaluation in the state and municipality of Sao Paulo.

AIDSTAR-One/Brazil will support continuation of the “De peito aberto” communication campaign, initiated during the USAID BCC for More Effective Tuberculosis Control Program (2010-2011), through working with the Sao Paulo State Secretariat and Municipal Tuberculosis Control Programs to create distribution and expansion strategies to reach prisoners and other populations most-at-risk of co-infection; to maintain materials at intervention sites; and to develop civil society involvement with peer-to-peer approaches and impact evaluation.