Capacity building, local ownership and implementation of a multi-level HIV/AIDS positive health, dignity, and prevention initiative in Mozambique: approach, challenges and lessons learned.

ABSTRACT

Mozambique has for many years suffered from a high burden of HIV with an estimated prevalence of 11.1% among adults age 15-49 years. In response, Positive Health, Dignity, and Prevention (or Positive Prevention as it is known in Mozambique), was developed as a method of integrating HIV care and prevention via capacity building. Through comprehensive holistic care, HIV transmission is prevented while simultaneously promoting the health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Our initiative used a three-tiered approach, and included activities at national, provincial, and community levels. In order to change patient behavior and successfully train health-care workers in Positive Prevention, it was therefore considered necessary to work at multiple levels of influence. This ensured that the individual-level behavior change of PLHIV and health-care providers was maximized through supportive environments and policies. Related national-level achievements included the establishment of a Positive Prevention technical working group; the development of a Positive Prevention policy document; training national policy-makers on Positive Prevention; the development and distribution of a nationally approved Positive Prevention training package; the integration of Positive Prevention into existing Ministry of Health curricula; the development and approval of national data collection forms; and the drafting of a related national strategy. The framework and key activities of the Mozambique Positive Prevention Program may help to inform and assist others involved in similar work, as well as advancing country or local ownership of HIV/AIDS treatment, care and prevention efforts. By using a three-tiered approach, a supportive system was created. This was critical to both optimizing Positive Prevention provision and building long-term capacity. In order for related efforts to be successful in other settings, we encourage implementing partners to also work at multiple levels, with local ownership principles in mind, in order that Positive Prevention programs may have the greatest possible effect.