Unlock Funding: Boost Health Systems in SEA & Pacific
Summary
This grant seeks technical assistance partners to strengthen laboratory systems in Burma and Papua New Guinea, crucial for expanding high-quality HIV treatment and monitoring. Eligible organizations will provide expertise in developing procedures, training staff, and improving the overall laboratory network to support national health initiatives.
Eligibility
Full Description
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Burma and the National Department of Health (NDOH) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) plan to rapidly expand high-quality antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage in the coming years by increasing capacity at existing delivery sites and decentralizing selected services to provincial, district and township levels. In order to accomplish this expansion, the MOH and NDOH need strong laboratory systems that ensure high-quality HIV diagnostic and clinical monitoring of patients at the existing and new service delivery sites. This will require strengthening the capacity of Burma’s National Health Laboratory (NHL) and Papua New Guinea’s Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), as well as building capacity of sub-national laboratories and improving the laboratory network in these countries.This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be awarded to a technical assistance (TA) partner to provide support to NHL and CPHL in several key areas, including: (1) developing and helping implement standard operating procedures, policies, guidelines, and training materials related to management and operations of national and sub-national laboratories; (2) building capacity of NHL and CPHL staff to validate, conduct, and ensure strong (and often cross-cutting) quality assurance and monitoring systems for HIV-related diagnostic and clinical monitoring activities; (3) strengthening the overall laboratory network in Burma and PNG that may include specimen transport and right-sizing of various classes of laboratories; and (4) providing supporting mentoring of NHL and NDOH staff and opportunities for professional development. In addition, the partner will implement recommendations to support the MOH and NDOH improve HIV laboratory services at the provincial, district and township levels, and provide support to the ongoing decentralization of health services.
The selected TA partner will coordinate with CDC country offices in Burma and PNG, as well as other organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Australian AID (DFAT), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Clinton Health Access Initiative