Funded by The Global Fund

HIV/AIDS chapter is included with National Text Books(Grade VI-XII) in 2007 Policy Change for impact: Standardization of Youth Friendly Health

Services and MIS incorporation, Endorsed LSE workplace policy on HIV/AIDS by BGMEA and

SOP for services for PLHIV

Evidence created for program and policies- Baseline survey, Operations Research, rapid assessments, impact assessments, annual review etc

Expanding HIV/AIDS Prevention in Bangladesh

HIV/AIDS Program of Save the Children in Bangladesh

As a Principal Recipient (PR) of the current Global Fund supported HIV/AIDS program in Bangladesh, Save the Children is leading the National Response in coordination with Government of Bangladesh and other NGOs. In 2009, Bangladesh has been awarded an additional 6 years of funding by the Global Fund to expand HIV/AIDS interventions under the national program through the ‘Rolling Continuation Channel’ (RCC, 2009-15). This award was based on the high level of Performance of Save the Children managed Round 2 (2004-2009) Program, which specifically targeted young people and has been appreciated as a “best practice” example in Asia. Through funding granted in Round 6 (2007-2012); also managed by Save the Children, Bangladesh had been taking action to reduce the spread of HIV infection among Most at Risk Populations (MARP), particularly Injecting Drug Users (IDU) and Female Sex Workers (FSW), to scale up existing HIV services targeted at vulnerable youth and to provide treatment, care & support for people living with HIV (PLHIV).

information generation for evidence -based strategic directions

Essential services for Injecting Drug Users & Female sex workers

care, support and treatment for PLHIV

Information campaign thru mass, local & print media

Youth friendly health services,

life skill education and accessing

condom

HIV & AIDS information into

national text curriculumn

Advocacy & mainstreaming of

HIV/AIDS

HIV prevention and risk reduction at workplace

(garment factories)

Capacity building and coordination

HIV/AIDS Program Strategies of Save the Children

Key Achievements – Highlights1. Overall HIV Prevalence remains <1% 2. HIV/AIDS information is included in text books of secondary and higher secondary level education, from grades VI to XII, in both Bangla and English.3. HIV/AIDS prevention, care & support related information now mainstreamed within the training curriculum of five different Ministries.4. National standards for Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS) have been established, now practiced in public, NGO & private health service facilities countrywide.5. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for services to PLHIV have been endorsed by the government6. Public-private partnership has been proved to be an effective model for fighting AIDS7. 500+ people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) are receiving anti-retroviral treatment (ARV) 8. Workplace policy on Life Skills-based Education (LSE) on HIV/AIDS endorsed by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers’ association (BGMEA)9. Under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 4 booklets on HIV/AIDS have been published for the 4 major practicing religions in the country

Knowledge has increased in HIV Prevention (2004-2008)

Condom use has increased among most at risk populations

Source: Operation Research on Mass Media, ICDDR,B, 2008

Source: National HIV Sero-survelliance, 2007

Challenges

AcknowledgementThe Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, National AIDS/STD Program of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, Implementing partners, community people of Bangladesh

For more information, contact- HIV/AIDS Sector, Save the Children USA, Bangladesh Country Office Phone: (+880-2) 8828081, 9885651, Fax: (+880-2) 9886372, E-Mail: bdcohivinfo@savechildren.org

Nat ional AIDS/STD ProgrammeDirectorate General of Health Services,Minist ry of Health & Family Welfare

A BCC Session at Drop in Centers for Injecting Drug Users

Religious leaders showing their commitment to fight HIV

The Global Fund Round-6 project Signing Ceremony with Implementing Partners

Classroom Education

LSE session at Garments Workplace

A Condom Demonestration session at a Drop in Center for Female Sex Workers

A court yard meeting to reduce stigma and discrimination

A LSE training session for Young people

Young people showing their commitment to fight HIV AIDS in a awareness raising concert

HIV/AIDS Prevention campaign through multiple channels

Major Objectives The RCC will finance the continuation and scale of interventions from Rounds 2 and 6 with these objectives:

1. Increase the scale of prevention services for key populations at higher risk: Injecting Drug Users(IDUs), Sex Workers (FSWs), hijras (transgendered) & Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)

2. Increase the scale of the most effective HIV/AIDS activities conducted through Round 2 and

3. Build capacity of partners to increase scale ofnational response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Principal Recipients and Key ImplementersWith the aim to keep the current low HIV prevalence rate (<1%), the Govt. of Bangladesh has developed collaborative partnership with Save the Children USA for efficient management of Global Fund supported Round 2 and Round 6 HIV/AIDS programs. Following the Public-Private Partnership approach in program implementation, 13 consortiums were selected that consists of 61 NGOs (national & international) partners including corporate/business sector, community based organizations and research organizations for effective and target oriented interventions. Besides, 185 strategic partner NGOs and 211 youth clubs and relevant government departments are also involved with this program.

Bangladesh CCM has established public-private partnership with three Principle Recipients (PRs) for ongoing RCC program (Dec 2009-Nov 2015, US$ 91 millions):

PR-1: Government/ National AIDS/STD program (NASP)-15%

PR-2: Save the Children USA (SC USA)- 51%

PR-3: ICDDR,B- 34%

Although resources for HIV have increased and the number of partners involved in the response has also expanded, including strong NGO participation and a vibrant

civil society, significant challenges remain in preventing Bangladesh from progressing to a concentrated epidemic. There is an urgent need to address

these key areas of work in the coming years:

1. Capacity of all the partners has to be built in a unified manner; ranging from Government, NGOs, private sector organizations, FBOs and

CBOs

2. Quality and minimum standards must be assured during the scale up so new services fit with national roll-out plans & resources are used accountably to reduce transmission &

maximize impact

3. National guidelines that are properly put into use and appropriately trained staff will ensure that interventions are effective and of quality.

4. The existing social and legal obstacles to reach the Most-at-Risk Populations (MARPs) must be overcome through concerted efforts by all partners.

5. Sensitive messages must be tailored for effective advocacy, awareness raising, social mobilization for the general population as well as the most-at-risk

6. Targeted programs with participation of diverse groups and utilization of their local knowledge and personal experiences must be implemented

7. Optimum planning, coordination, management, monitoring & supervision must come from the best practices and lessons

learned from previous programs