The Integrated HIV/AIDS Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Projet Intégré de VIH/SIDA au Congo [ProVICplus])

Overview

ProVICplus is the U.S. Agency for International Development’s most substantial HIV program in DRC. Its mission is to reduce the incidence and prevalence of HIV in Kinshasa, Haut-Lomami, Haut-Katanga, Lualaba, and Tshopo provinces, while supporting those living with HIV and their families. By integrating comprehensive HIV and AIDS services into local, general care sites, ProVICplus seeks to improve access to care while fostering community ownership of health systems. Under this program, EGPAF works in collaboration with PATH and is responsible for HIV care and treatment, PMTCT, and EID activities. In 2010, EGPAF established a network to provide increased access to EID service(Projet Intégré de VIH/SIDA au Congo [ProVICplus])s among HIV-exposed infants in areas surrounding major cities. Since EID testing became available in DRC in mid-2010, EGPAF has led the way in collection, transportation, and swift return of infant HIV diagnostics and linkage to pediatric care and treatment. Originally slated to end in 2014, the former ProVIC was extended through May 2017 through the ProVICplus mechanism with EGPAF as the main clinical implementing partner.