Transitioning HIV Programs to National Partners

On Friday, May 23 experts from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and Fundação Ariel Glaser Contra o SIDA Pediátrico joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for an engaging discussion about transitioning HIV programs to national partners.

The panelists included:

• Charles Lyons, president and CEO, EGPAF

• Anja Giphart, M.D., M.P.H., executive vice president of medical and scientific affairs, EGPAF

• Paula Vaz, M.D., Ph.D., executive director, Fundação Ariel Glaser Contra o SIDA Pediátrico in Mozambique
The discussion was moderated by Todd Summers, senior adviser of the Global Health Policy Center at CSIS.

The panelists stressed the importance of developing appropriate timelines for transition, providing financial resources to support initial and ongoing capacity building, and evaluating the quality of patient care before and after transition. An understanding of and the ability to adapt to country contexts is also crucial for a successful transition to a national organization.

Panelists also discussed the important benefits of strategic planning and close collaboration between international and national partners before, during, and after transition to assure continuity of care.

“From the beginning we have conducted strategic planning and involved all of the key actors– including EGPAF, international and national partners, donors, and the Ministry of Health. Our strategic plan has been the backbone of our success,” said Dr. Vaz.

“In just three years Fundação Ariel Glaser Contra o SIDA Pediátrico has grown from one staff member to 98 and currently supports 190 sites in Mozambique. We have tested more than 300,000 people for HIV and are providing more than 110,000 people with antiretroviral therapy,” Dr. Vaz added.

In 2011, as part of EGPAF’s commitment to sustainable HIV programs and with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), EGPAF launched three independent national affiliates in Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Tanzania through an innovative EGPAF-developed affiliation model.  Strengthening national organizations through affiliation is one component of EGPAF’s commitment to advancing country ownership in order to end AIDS in children.

Watch the web cast below and learn more about EGPAF’s affiliation model here.