sharper
HEALTH PROGRAM
SHARPER
Male and female sex worker peer educators learning new skills in behavior change communication
Project duration February 2010 to September 2013 Prime Partner FHI Ghana Implementing Partners Catholic Relief Services EXP Momentum Opportunities Industrialization Centers International Social Impact Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV Ghana HIV/AIDS Network A consortium of 33 local NGOs National Stakeholders Ghana AIDS Commission National AIDS Control Program Geographic Targets 30+ high HIV prevalence districts across Ghana Contact Information Chief of Party, Henry Nagai Tel: 233 217 749-910 Web Site: www.fhi.org
The Strengthening HIV/AIDS Response Partnership and Evidenced-based Response (SHARPER) project is a 4-year initiative designed to reduce HIV transmission among Ghana’s most-at-risk populations (MARPs), people living with HIV (PLHIV), and the sexual partners of both groups. The project operates in 30 high HIV prevalence districts across Ghana and aims to reach 178,000 individuals at risk of or living with HIV with key health behavior messages and improved access to health services. SHARPER works directly with female and male sex workers, men who have sex with men, people living with HIV and their sex partners to: • Improve their knowledge, attitudes and practice of key health behaviors including HIV prevention • Increase use of HIV counseling & testing, sexually transmitted infection screening/treatment, and HIV care & treatment services • Strengthen the human and institutional capacity of MARP and PLHIV program implementers and coordination bodies Since MARPs and PLHIV remain highly stigmatized in Ghana, interventions reaching them are sensitive to their needs and protection. Primary activities include peer-to-peer outreach and communication, MARPfriendly drop-in-centers, cell-phone based counseling and health messaging known as Text Me! Flash Me!, and a rapid response system for those who are at risk of/have experienced violence. Gender norms play a critical role in how women and men at risk of and living with HIV communicate, access services and are able to lead healthy, confident lives. SHARPER is working with women living with HIV and female sex workers to build their leadership and negotiation skills so they are in a position to better protect and support themselves and their female peers. A significant component of SHARPER is to build local capacity in HIV programming. SHARPER supports local NGO partners to assess their organizational capacities, prepare organizational development plans and receive mentoring in areas such as human resource management, administration and finance, planning and resource development. Through partnership with the Ghana AIDS Commission, SHARPER is helping to better map and respond to the prevention and health needs of MARPs. It is also introducing quality improvement (QI) measures to establish care standards and lift the boat of quality across the national MARPs program.
SHARPER
Male and female sex worker peer educators learning new skills in behavior change communication
Project duration February 2010 to September 2013 Prime Partner FHI Ghana Implementing Partners Catholic Relief Services EXP Momentum Opportunities Industrialization Centers International Social Impact Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV Ghana HIV/AIDS Network A consortium of 33 local NGOs National Stakeholders Ghana AIDS Commission National AIDS Control Program Geographic Targets 30+ high HIV prevalence districts across Ghana Contact Information Chief of Party, Henry Nagai Tel: 233 217 749-910 Web Site: www.fhi.org
The Strengthening HIV/AIDS Response Partnership and Evidenced-based Response (SHARPER) project is a 4-year initiative designed to reduce HIV transmission among Ghana’s most-at-risk populations (MARPs), people living with HIV (PLHIV), and the sexual partners of both groups. The project operates in 30 high HIV prevalence districts across Ghana and aims to reach 178,000 individuals at risk of or living with HIV with key health behavior messages and improved access to health services. SHARPER works directly with female and male sex workers, men who have sex with men, people living with HIV and their sex partners to: • Improve their knowledge, attitudes and practice of key health behaviors including HIV prevention • Increase use of HIV counseling & testing, sexually transmitted infection screening/treatment, and HIV care & treatment services • Strengthen the human and institutional capacity of MARP and PLHIV program implementers and coordination bodies Since MARPs and PLHIV remain highly stigmatized in Ghana, interventions reaching them are sensitive to their needs and protection. Primary activities include peer-to-peer outreach and communication, MARPfriendly drop-in-centers, cell-phone based counseling and health messaging known as Text Me! Flash Me!, and a rapid response system for those who are at risk of/have experienced violence. Gender norms play a critical role in how women and men at risk of and living with HIV communicate, access services and are able to lead healthy, confident lives. SHARPER is working with women living with HIV and female sex workers to build their leadership and negotiation skills so they are in a position to better protect and support themselves and their female peers. A significant component of SHARPER is to build local capacity in HIV programming. SHARPER supports local NGO partners to assess their organizational capacities, prepare organizational development plans and receive mentoring in areas such as human resource management, administration and finance, planning and resource development. Through partnership with the Ghana AIDS Commission, SHARPER is helping to better map and respond to the prevention and health needs of MARPs. It is also introducing quality improvement (QI) measures to establish care standards and lift the boat of quality across the national MARPs program.
