BACKGROUND
Mozambique has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world. With an estimated 2.2 million Mozambicans infected with HIV (13.9% of people over age 15), and new infections continuing at a high rate (130,000 per year), particularly among adolescents and young women and men, HIV is the leading cause of mortality for Mozambicans over the age of 5. While the country has made strides in testing people for HIV and providing treatment, systemic challenges, such as the need to travel long distances to access care, long wait times in facilities, stigma, poor quality healthcare, and inadequate communication about the importance of staying on treatment have resulted in a high proportion of HIV-positive individuals discontinuing their treatment. Consequently, Mozambique continues to have among the highest HIV mortality rates in the world.
 
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This government-to-government (G-2-G) activity focuses on strengthening Mozambique’s National Council to Combat HIV/AIDS’s (CNCS) capacity to fulfill its mandate, with an emphasis on the planning and coordination of the HIV/AIDS national response. This support is part of a U.S. Government and Ministry of Health longer-term strategic goal that CNCS manage and coordinate the HIV community portfolio. Through this support district and provincial level health offices receive technical guidance and assistance in project reporting, training and coordinating with PEPFAR, other donors and local partners on the national HIV response. It also includes re-establishing the CNCS sub-grant program to local community-based organizations to deliver HIV care and treatment services. Support is also given to local civil society organizations to monitor the implementation of Mozambique’s PEPFAR Country operational plan at the local level. By improving the quality of community-led monitoring, the government at every level can better address the challenges to keeping people living with HIV on treatment and decrease stigma at the health facility. 
 
EXPECTED RESULTS AND IMPACTS
By 2024, CNCS will have contributed to HIV epidemic control through: 

  • Strengthened capacity to lead and coordinate the national, provincial and district level HIV/AIDS response.
  • Active promotion of community engagement in monitoring the quality of health and HIV services in all levels of health facilities.