HIV/AIDS
Listen to Dr.Gilbert Kombe speak about HIV/AIDS and Health Systems Strengthening
The Challenges of Achieving Success in Responding to the HIV Epidemic
Each week, HIV infects nearly 50,000 individuals. Each day, thanks to multilateral, bilateral and private initiatives, at least 1.3 million individuals in the world’s poorest countries begin or continue treatment regimens to help them manage the world’s newest and least-understood chronic disease. As recently as five years ago, many people, including global health experts, doubted such progress was possible.
The Group of Eight (G8) is expected to reaffirm its commitment to supporting antiretroviral treatment for approximately 2.5 million people over the next five years. As countries work to scale up successful programs, the weakness of the national health systems needed to support HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment grow increasingly apparent. Repeatedly, health system weaknesses ranging from acute shortages of trained health workers to weak health management information systems to the inadequate integration of HIV services into basic health services have tested – and sometimes threatened – the successful scaling up of urgently needed HIV and AIDS services.
International donors and national governments are increasingly recognizing the importance of strong health systems for achieving HIV/AIDS targets and goals, and for providing long-term and sustainable support for prevention and management of one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Here we take a closer look at both proven and targeted approaches to strengthening health systems so they are prepared to meet the challenges of achieving HIV/AIDS success.
What is the health system?
A health system consists of all organizations, people, and actions whose primary intent is to promote, restore, or maintain health. The health systems strengthening framework of the World Health Organization identifies six building blocks of a health system: service delivery; health workforce; information; medical products, vaccines and technologies; financing; and leadership and governance.
How Health Systems 20/20 helps to build stronger health systems
Health Systems 20/20’s holistic approach to health systems strengthening, including partnering with the often-unacknowledged private sector, allows it to link research to real-world applications, and address the spectrum of HIV-related prevention, treatment, care, and support needs. The Abt Associates-led project works closely with a diverse set of local partners – from central ministries of health to district health managers to grassroots private groups – to address those priorities. For example, we work with ministries of health to apply our Health Systems Assessment Tool to rapidly assess health systems needs and prioritize responses; we also help local groups such as midwife associations to provide prevention of mother-to-child transmission services.
Using Facts to Improve Health Worker Allocation in Côte d'Ivoire
Type: Brief
Country: Cote d'Ivoire
Toolkit for Using Round 9 of the Global Fund for Health Systems Strengthening
Type: Tool
Debriefing on Health Systems Strengthening
Type: Presentation
Coûts de la Prise en Charge Médicale du VIH/SIDA par les Services de Santé Publique en Côte d’Ivoire
Type: Report
Country: Cote d'Ivoire
Costs of HIV/AIDS Medical Services in Public Health Facilities in Côte d’Ivoire
Type: Report
Country: Cote d'Ivoire
From Health Labor Market Analysis to Result-Based Financing: Insights from a Post-Conflict Country, Cote d'Ivoire
Jan 28 2009As in most African countries, Cote d’Ivoire is facing a crisis in human resources for health (HRH) worsened by a high HIV-AIDS prevalence (4.7%) and a civil war from 2002 to 2007. Many health workers have fled from the northern regions to seek refuge in the capital city, Abidjan. At a World Bank event on January 14, 2009, Gilbert Kombe shared insights from Health Systems 20/20 work to develop innovative and sustainable interventions to address the health labor crisis.
More...New Toolkit!
Using Round 9 of the Global Fund for Health Systems Strengthening
Oct 27 2008Health Systems 20/20 and the Health Workforce Advocacy Initiative have teamed up to develop a toolkit of materials to help Global Fund applicants better understand how they can use Round 9 of the Global Fund to strengthen their countries’ health systems as well as what resources are available to support them in doing so.
More...Why Strengthening Health Systems Matters
Oct 21 2008
USAID's flagship health systems strengthening project, Health Systems 20/20, was invited to share their experience with the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) related to building health systems at the country level.
More...Health Systems 20/20's Dr. Gilbert Kombe Discusses HIV/AIDS Systems on BBC
Aug 8 2008Health Systems 20/20 HIV/AIDS technical team leader Dr. Gilbert Kombe was recently interviewed by the World Today while attending the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. The BBC’s award-winning international news and current affairs program reaches millions of listeners around the world. To listen to the audio clip of Dr. Kombe’s interview, please follow the link provided below.
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Photos from the IAC
Governance
