Regional Capacity Buidling on NACP Data Management 19 Feb 2024

I-TECH India provided technical assistance to NACO, MoHFW, and Government of India, in organizing ‘Regional Capacity Building on NACP Data Management’ workshops for 78 SACS officials. These workshops aimed to enhance data literacy and practices within the NACP through collaborative learning, and covered various aspects like data quality, security, sharing, archiving, analysis, and dissemination. The attendees will conduct subsequent training for NACP facility staff and undertake secondary data analysis on the priority topics identified during the workshops.

Suuportive Supervisory visit Feb 2024

I-TECH India provided technical support to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and Government of India for on-site mentoring and supportive supervision of the Delhi ART Centers. Visits were conducted to the ART Center at Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, that focused on building capacity of the Data Manager to improve data management practices (e.g., data cleaning, validation). Additionally, training was provided to generate lists of people living with HIV (PLHIV), facilitating follow-up tasks such as pill pick up, viral load testing, and tracking HIV-Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection.

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Uttarakhand SACS LAC Training

In collaboration with the New Delhi Centre of Excellence, Maulana Azad Medical College, I-TECH India provided technical support to Uttarakhand SACS to strengthen the capacity of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) staff to deliver high-quality treatment services. A two-day training program was conducted on 13-14 February 2024 for 37 participants that was focused on enhancing the operational and technical capacities of Link Antiretroviral (ART) Centers (LAC) and LAC Plus. These centers serve as differentiated service delivery models for decentralized ART services, bridging the gap between HIV testing and treatment, while also improving access to treatment services for enhanced adherence and retention in HIV care. I-TECH India developed the training agenda content, and facilitated sessions that covered updates on the national program, ART initiation, management of opportunistic infections and comorbidities, patient-centric care strategies, data management, and the functions of LAC/LAC Plus centers. The training aimed to enhance service uptake, promote treatment adherence and retention, and foster community engagement and integration with health systems.

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TRG Meeting NACO 12-01-2024 New Delhi

The 17th National TRG meeting convened by NACO and MoHFW to address programmatic and technical gaps surrounding care, support, and treatment for PLHIV was held on 12 January 2024. Comprising clinical experts, academics, subject specialists, public health professionals, and community representatives, the TRG serves as a forum for evidence-based discussions and recommendations to improve health outcomes for PLHIV. I-TECH India, in collaboration with NACO, supported the planning, preparation, and execution of this pivotal meeting. TRG gatherings are pivotal in providing guidance and recommendations for specific components within the national HIV program, making them integral events for NACP. There were discussions on tailored counselling approaches for PLHIV with unsuppressed HIV viral loads, cervical cancer screening protocols for women living with HIV, management strategies for HIV-hepatitis comorbidity, TB preventive therapy implementation, screening and management protocols for positive pregnant women testing, monitoring adverse effects associated with dolutegravir, and the digitization of health records for PLHIV. The mobile application developed by I-TECH India, and designed to disseminate the National Guidelines for HIV Care & Treatment under the guidance of NACO, was highlighted for its accessibility and utility, serving as an invaluable educational tool for healthcare professionals engaged in HIV care delivery.

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I-TECH India team at World AIDS Day Celebration 2023 in Guwahati, Assam

I-TECH India participated in the World AIDS Day (WAD) celebration on 1st December 2023 at a national event organized by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in Guwahati, Assam. The theme for the year “Let Communities Lead” focused on community ownership, to raise awareness about the challenges and to mobilize all stakeholders to jointly redouble efforts to ensure the success of the HIV response and achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

I-TECH India provided support to develop resource materials and technical documents for patient literacy and awareness viz (a) Frequently asked questions on HIV Treatment (available in English and Hindi); (b) Job aid on Administration of Paediatric ARV medicine with DTG-10 mg (available in English and Hindi); and (c) Handbook for HIV and STI Counsellors working under NACP; which were disseminated during the event and were well received by different stakeholders and community participants. I-TECH India also supported NACO in creating informative posters highlighting key insights and data achievements, contributing to a better understanding of the current HIV landscape. Our team showcased the National Data Hub presenting a brief on critical information about the program to the Minister of State.

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Visit to Deep Chand Bandhu ART Centre in Delhi as part of the supportive supervision

I-TECH India team was engaged in conducting supportive supervision visits as part of expert team led by NACO to review and assess the progress achieved in enhancing programmatic indicators and delivering patient-centric care at Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres in Delhi. Based on these visits, I-TECH India is in the process of developing site specific plans for each ART centre, which will act as a blueprint to provide technical assistance and mentoring support to these sites in collaboration with NACO and State AIDS Control Society (SACS).

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Counselor Training on Comprehensive HIV Services

I-TECH India participated as a technical partner during a pilot training program, organized by NACO in collaboration with Haryana SACS, for counselors from 19-23 September 2023 at Haryana. The training was organized in line with the revisions made in the roles and responsibilities of the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) and based on the guiding principles of NACP-V, aimed to capacitate counselors to provide comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment services, including sexually transmitted infections (STI). The training sessions were facilitated by experts from NACO, SACS, and other development partners including I-TECH India, and included sessions on the basics of HIV/STI counseling and testing; risk assessment; ART; and adherence services to special populations (e.g., women living with HIV, pregnant women, adolescents and children). Counselors were also briefed on the newer initiatives in NACP-V, including Sampoorna Suraksha Kendras, One Stop Centers, community systems strengthening, and virtual Interventions.

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Regional Training of Trainers (TOT) Capsular Training for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Center Staff on HIV Care

I-TECH India, in collaboration with the Centers of Excellence (COEs), supported the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Government of India, in organizing a regional, two-day, capsular TOT workshop for ART center staff. A total of 48 master trainers from 21 states were trained from 28 August to 1 September 2023. The training sessions, comprising clinical and programmatic aspects, were facilitated by experts from NACO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COEs, pediatric COEs, I-TECH India, and partner organizations. The concept of Adult Learning Principles was introduced during the training to emphasize learning techniques that make use of learner experiences, with group discussions, peer-to-peer collaboration, and problem-solving activities. The master trainers will subsequently train ART staff at their respective states per the training plan developed by the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) for ensuring quality service delivery and patient-centered care.

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Capsular Training for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Center Staff on HIV Care

Capsular Training for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Center Staff on HIV Care: The third capsular training for ART center staff was successfully completed on 14 July 2023 with a total of 101 participants (medical officers, counsellors, nurses). The training program was organized by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in coordination with Delhi State AIDS Control Society (SACS) and with support from Center of Excellence MAMC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and I-TECH India. The impact of the two-day training program was assessed based on pre- and post-test analysis, which showed a significant improvement in the knowledge levels of the participants. The participants found the in-person training sessions involving all the team members of the ART centers to be highly effective and motivating.

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Joint Supportive Supervision of ART Centers in Delhi

Joint Supportive Supervision of ART Centers in Delhi: I-TECH India is providing technical support to NACO for on-site mentoring and supportive supervision of the ART centers in Delhi. Joint visits were planned in coordination with NACO/SACS/DAPCU and partner organizations, and include desk review, support for improving programmatic indicators, and offering patient-centered care. I-TECH India is also supporting NACO in developing a digital tool for supportive supervision showcasing a center-wise, real-time dashboard, as well as recording the observations and recommendations made during these visits to support quality program implementation, including follow up and monitoring.

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