Description
DHAPP's goal is to maximize program impact by focusing on the drivers of the epidemic specific to the military, and to support the development of interventions and programs that address these issues. DHAPP works with militaries of foreign countries to devise 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 country’s need for prevention, care and/or treatment of their HIV/AIDS situation based on an assessment of the country’s epidemic, and more specifically, in that country’s military. • Strengthen the military capacity for ownership and behavioral changes over the long term. • Consider program design by leveraging assets with other country partners who have/had successful prevention, care, and/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 evidenced based programs with measurable courses of action that demonstrate: • Visible support from the military sector. • Development of plans of action and policies. • Alignment with national strategies and priorities.• Increasing awareness within the military sector. • Country military ownership of its activities. • Prevention plans focusing on prevention of sexual transmission HIV testing services HTS), sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and management, behavioral interventions, reduction of concurrent partnerships, male circumcision, changing male normative behaviors, 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 care and support).• Stigma reduction associated with HIV infection. • Wide availability of condoms.• HIV care and treatment plans focusing on prevention and care of opportunistic infections, increasing antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage rates to reach saturation, supporting progress towards adopting WHO’s 2015 “Treat All” treatment recommendation within confines of rapidly evolving national (ART) guidelines, Treatment-as-Prevention for serodiscordant couples when current guidelines don’t yet support “Treat All”, and considering HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in specific high risk HIV-negative populations in whom annual HIV incidence is greater than 3%.• Surveillance and infrastructure development through programs focusing on HIV/STI/tuberculosis surveillance, prevalence surveys, laboratory support, monitoring and evaluation, training and strategic information management.• Increasing capacity building.• Promoting sustainability by the partner country. The DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), based at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, California, provides technical assistance, management, and administrative support of the global HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment for foreign militaries. DHAPP administers funding, conducts training, and provides technical assistance to participating militaries. DHAPP provides HIV program execution and monitors outcomes, with staff that includes active duty military, civil service, and contractor personnel.