Description
DHAPP's goal is to maximize program impact by focusing on helping countries/militaries implement a program that identifies technical areas in which resources and attention are concentrated, by support of DHAPP resources. DHAPP works with a country and its military plans based on the following process: Meet with key partners in country to determine provisional major program areas and other technical assistance needs. Adapt DHAPP support to a countrys need for prevention, care and/or treatment of their HIV/AIDS situation based on existing plans and assessments. Strengthen the military capacity for ownership and behavioral changes over the long term. Possibly design a program with other country partners who have had successful prevention, care, or treatment efforts. Focus on prevention, care and/or treatment impact aligned with national implementation plans. Implement and monitor programs to ensure accountability and sustainability. Countries and their militaries need strong programs with courses of action that demonstrate: Visible support from the military sector Development of plans of action and policies Increasing awareness within the military sector Country ownership of its activities Prevention plans focusing on prevention of sexual transmission through voluntary counseling and testing, sexually transmitted infection (STI) management, behavioral interventions, prevention and care of other opportunistic infections, male circumcision, changing male normative behavior, and prevention campaigns Reduction of mother-to-child transmission, (The primary focus of these interventions is on behavior change to reduce the risks of sexual transmission, counseling, testing, diagnosis and proper linkages to treatment, and reducing stigma associated with HIV infection.) Surveillance and infrastructure development through programs focusing on HIV/STI/tuberculosis surveillance, prevalence surveys, laboratory support, monitoring and evaluation, training and information management. Increasing financial resources More information about countries DHAPP currently operates in and its existing programs can be found on the DHAPP website, http://www.nhrc.navy.mil/programs/dhapp/index.html Program Purpose and Plan DHAPP continues to rely upon the vital support of various partners, such as non-governmental organizations, in implementing HIV prevention, care and treatment programs across the globe. Each country has a customized plan to help the country/military bring its HIV/AIDS programs to sufficient scale to help reduce the spread of the epidemic and mitigate its impact. DHAPPs current priority activities include the following: Training of master trainers and peer educators Troop Level HIV/AIDS prevention education and behavior change communication Providing infrastructure and equipment for HIV testing, care and treatment centers Increasing testing of all military personnel Developing HIV laboratory diagnostic and monitoring capabilities Increasing clinical capability for health care of those infected with HIV Effective methodology for monitoring and evaluation procedures