Title

Rapid Adaptation of the Health Workforce for HIV Service Delivery in the era of COVID 19: Implications for sustainable epidemic control and beyond

Code

SA36

Session Type

Satellite

Track

Not applicable

Channel

Channel 4

Date Time

20 July 08:30- 09:30

Local Date Time

08:30 - 09:30 W. Europe Daylight Time

Chair:

Sarah ACKERMAN, USAID, United States

Moderators:

Diana FRYMUS, USAID, United States
Sarah DOMINIS, PEPFAR, United States

Organizer:

United States Agency for International Development, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, Human Resources for Health in 2030 program

Throughout the COVID response PEPFAR has worked closely with country governments to modify how PEPFAR's extensive health workforce staffing investments are utilized. These changes have significantly supported the preservation of HIV services throughout the pandemic. Many of these adaptations have proven beneficial for both HIV clients and health workers and may offer a model for how HIV services can be adapted for long-term HIV epidemic control. This session will highlight key perspectives from representatives of local governments, organizations, private sector, and health workers who have been serving on the front line. They will share health worker implications identified from the pressures of COVID, experiences innovating to respond, and priorities to further advance and sustain HIV gains. With 2021 designated as the Year of the Health and Care Worker, reflecting on the HRH lessons learned from this pandemic can help institutionalize adaptations and capabilities for the future.

60 min	Rapid Adaptation of the Health Workforce for HIV Service Delivery in the era of COVID 19: Implications for sustainable epidemic control and beyond Diana FRYMUS, USAID, United States Dr. Llang Bridget M. MAAMA-MAIME, Government of Lesotho, Lesotho Dr. Goodluck MWAKITOSHA, Benjamin Mkapa Foundation, Tanzania, United Republic of Agatha NTHETE, Health Care worker: deputy in charge of ART clinic, Malawi Lynda TOUSSAINT, Unjani Clinics NPC, South Africa

AUTHOR

Chanda Mwamba

SUMMARY

This session focused on PEPFAR support of over 210,000 clinical, community and lay health workers worldwide. The session highlighted adaptations and important role the health workforce contributed to provision of HIV services during the COVID-19 response. It included experiences from stakeholders and emphasized the need for sustainability of the adaptations.

HIGHLIGHTS

Diana Frymus presented the PEPFAR investment in over 210,000 diverse health workers with significant support for community and lay health workers. The data suggested ‘understanding health workforce availability’ was critical for adaptations and optimizing investments. PEPFAR national surveys found insufficient staffing as biggest challenge to COVID-19 response. Other challenges echoed by Agatha NTHETE, included insufficient PPE, updates on guidelines and provider support. Dr. Maama-maime discussed adaptations that included shifting 10% from each ministry budget funding to the COVID response in Lesotho and emphasized the need for governments to invest in health systems. Dr. Mwakitosha focused on the role of local partners in working with the country government to optimize utilization of HCWs and highlighted the need to build trust between the government and private sector. Lynda Toussaint described community-based clinics managed by nurses called Ujani in South Africa. She highlighted that the flexibility of the private sector to adapt quickly positioned them in a strategic position to support public health systems. Participants’ adaptations to service delivery included shifting services to communities, decentralized drug distribution, expanded digital platforms to deliver tele health. They emphasized continued funding, stakeholder collaboration, prioritizing health workers and systematic approaches to sustain gains made during COVID-19 adaptations.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

This overview of PEPFAR investments in diverse health workers underscores the need for a collaborative team and strengthening primary health system to advance epidemic control. PEPFAR increased support towards lay and community health workers underlines their critical role. However, there may be need to provide clear guidance for this role and address related challenges. Experiences shared from the private sector and health workers including identified health system challenges and those posed and worsened by COVID-19 highlight the need for increased investments from diverse stakeholders in health systems. There remains a gap on systematic sustainability of beneficial adaptations post COVID-19.