Using data to change the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Today is World AIDS Day — a day of commemoration, and a day where we acknowledge the efforts made by partners worldwide to combat HIV and AIDS. The U.S. government is proud to be one of the partners working hard toward achieving the ultimate goal of an AIDS-free generation.
Through PEPFAR, the U.S. government has invested more than $70 billion to support the global HIV/AIDS response. More than $100 million of that funding has been invested right here in Ghana to assist Ghanaians.
With this commitment PEPFAR has implemented several successful programs that have helped reduce Ghana’s prevalence to 1.6 percent. Currently PEPFAR is working with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) through the National AIDS/STI Control Program (NACP), which is the lead Ministry of Health (MOH) agency responsible for the delivery package of services to prevent and control HIV/AIDS in the country.
The NACP, through a collaborative effort with partners and donors, developed a comprehensive roadmap that seeks to guide Ghana’s commitment toward ensuring that all persons who test positive for HIV virus are immediately put on treatment without any delays, irrespective of their CD4[1] count. It is known as the “Treat All” policy.
The UNAIDS 90–90–90 target calls on countries to reach the following goals:
— Ninety percent of all people living with HIV should know their status.
— Ninety percent of all those who are diagnosed HIV positive should be on sustained antiretroviral treatment (ART)
— Ninety percent of those on ART having an undetectable viral load by 2020.
The roadmap identifies priority health sector actions required to achieve these stated targets by leveraging advances in technologies to achieve improved monitoring, tracking and provision of quality care to clients.
Strengthening strategic information, or improving access to valid and reliable data, is considered to be one of the core actions required to realize the aspirational targets set forth by the country.
Consequently, the NACP and the Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED) of GHS will implement an e-Tracker module within the district health information management systems (DHIMS II) platform. The e-Tracker will enable the NACP to manage HIV data at the individual client level, and progressively monitor those clients over time — scheduling future appointments; expediting referrals across different ART sites; and facilitating the follow up of clients to improve on adherence to treatment.
The e-Tracker platform is designed to assure data confidentiality and integrity, and to enhance reporting on the key program indicators to measure performance. Its use will reduce the burden of data-gathering efforts and enhance the value of information otherwise not possible when viewed in isolation.
As a multi-stakeholder initiative, it involves the active participation of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global Fund (GF), NACP, PPMED and other partners.
The HIV/AIDS E-tracker module is scheduled to go live in January 2017 — and will be deployed and fully implemented in the 218 ART sites across the country.
As we observe World AIDS Day 2016, the U.S. government is united with our many partners — in Ghana and around the world — to change the course of this epidemic and show our support for people at risk for or living with HIV.
[1] A CD4 count is a lab test that measures the number of CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4 cells) in a sample of your blood. In people with HIV, it is the most important laboratory indicator of how well your immune system is working and the strongest predictor of HIV progression — https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/understand-your-test-results/cd4-count/index.html
Blog: Written by Frank Amoyaw, PEPFAR — CDC
