Designup

Category: Project

  • Population Size Estimation of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Georgia, 2014

    Curatio International Foundation together with Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health TANADGOMA implemented the survey project which aims to plan preventive interventions targeting high risk group and estimating the population size of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM).

    According National center for disease control and public health 4,131People living with HIV (PLWH) were officially registered by the end of 2013. The number of newly registered is 490 in 2013 and compare to 2012decreased by 7%.
    Georgia is among low HIV prevalence (0.07%) countries. The HIV epidemic is primarily restricted to the most-at-risk populations (MARP). Among newly registered HIV cases heterosexual transmission mode is the first route 49%; the share of drug use is the second 35% and the third is homosexual route of transmission 13% according to the national HIV surveillance system.The findings of the last Bio-BSS conducted in 2012 among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tbilisishowed that, HIV prevalence among MSM is 13%.

    Preventive interventions targeting this high risk group are implemented in the country, however for adequate planning and scaling-up of preventive interventions estimation of the MSM size is critical. Due to absence of this information in the country accurate coverage of preventive interventions is challenging as well.

    The current study is supported by Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. International experts are invited to participatein the survey design development and results analysis.

    For more information please view the full report.

  • Development of a Strategic Plan to Strengthen Health Information System in Georgia

    Development of a Strategic Plan to Strengthen Health Information System in Georgia project was financed by the Health Metrics Network (HMN). The project started in April 2007 and was completed in March 2008.

    The aim of the project was to formulate a sound health information system and development of the strategic plan aligned with HMN standards. The project focused on assisting the Government of Georgia (GoG) in identifying and convening country stakeholders from health, statistics, and development agencies; assessing the current health information system using the HMN Toolkit; and composing a comprehensive, prioritized, and budgeted Health Information System Strategic Plan.

  • Establishment of evidence base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening of HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country

    The project was funded by the Global Fund and implemented by the Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in partnership with Georgian Infectious diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Public Union “Bemoni,” and association “Tanadgoma.” The project took place from February, 2008 to December 2010.

    The aim of the project was to reform HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country. The project encompassed 3 basic components, each of them embracing series of activities.

    In the framework of the first (1) component of the project, Improvement of the routine HIV/AIDS Surveillance system, the HIV/AIDS surveillance system was assessed, which later allowed to develop the HIV/AIDS national surveillance plan. Qualitative and quantitative research methodology, as well as literature review have been applied for exploring international approaches and requirements for the HIV surveillance system, priorities of national policy, and legal environment; assessing information flows, technical capacities and human resources of health care facilities, public health centers, and laboratories/blood stations; and analyzing skills and drawbacks of professional staff in regards to HIV/AIDS surveillance.

    Exhaustive assessment and analysis of HIV/AIDS surveillance system led to the development of the National HIV/AIDS surveillance Plan. The document incorporates clear, comprehensive, and operationally viable information serves as a guideline for policy implementation and as an instrument for advocating and mobilizing adequate financial and technical resources. It increases understanding of key concepts and models of the HIV/AIDS surveillance system and suggests ways for effective labor division among various participants and responsible parties. The National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan provides an opportunity to better understand financial implications of strategy alternatives and choices to recognize financial requirements and effectively mobilize resources to support sustainability of the HIV/AIDS Surveillance System.

    Collaboration of the National HIV/AIDS Routine Surveillance Guidelines was the step following the elaboration of National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan, clarifying standard operational procedures for routine surveillance related to and without voluntary consulting and testing (VCT), consultation before and after blood capture, and transportation rules for HIV testing. HIV/AIDS Routine surveillance guideline was endorsed by the Decree of the Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs #217/o on 23, July 2010.

    Along with endorsing guidelines, the trainings on routine HIV/AIDS surveillance requirements, registration/notification/reporting procedures were delivered to health care specialists throughout the country.

    Based on the National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan the electronic data base for HIV/AIDS surveillance system was developed. Electronic surveillance system collects case-based data on every tested individual by epidemiological groups. The data allows and software automatically calculates all routine surveillance indicators and produces different types of analytical reports.
    The second (2) component of the project foresaw elaboration of the sentinel HIV/AIDS Surveillance guidelines including registration, notification, reporting forms and standard operation procedures. Collection of data through sentinel surveillance would make it possible to provide evidence-grounded HIV/AIDS statistics and strengthen HIV/AIDS surveillance in Georgia.

    The third (3) component focused on carrying out behavior surveillance survey with biomarker component among the IDUs, CSWs, Prisoners and MSM and development of standard guidelines for BSS, including standard methodology, standard tools/questioners for data collection, and standard framework for data analysis.

    Newly designed HIV/AIDS surveillance system gathers information from different sources: routine surveillance, sentinel surveillance and BSS.

    Follow the links to view:
    Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Surveys
    National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan (Eng.version)
    National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan (Geo.version)
    HIV/AIDS Surveillance Assessment Report (Eng.version)
    HIV/AIDS Surveillance Assessment Report (Geo.version)

  • Rapid Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sector and Drug Supply Chain

    Rapid Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sector in Uzbekistan project was funded by The World Bank and implemented by Curatio International Foundation in partnership with Credes (France). The project commenced in 2003.

    The main objective of the project was to perform a rapid assessment designed to gather information on different issues like drug policy and regulation, strategic framework, product selection, forecasting methods, procurement mechanisms, quality assurance, storage, transport, and reporting. Other issues studied were the structures of public and private distribution systems, the types and values of drugs flowing through, and the availability of essential drugs.

    The Rapid Assessment covered the following major tasks:

    Review the relevance of several rapid assessment tools that are available (through WHO, John Snow Inc, Management for Sciences for Health, and Boston University);
    Adapt the tools for Uzbekistan;
    Gather data using several defined methodologies, such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, record review, flow-charting;
    Compile and triangulate the data and seek clarifications where data shows conflicting results;
    Compile a report providing a review of each of the supply chain functions, their strengths and weaknesses;
    For a sample of drugs, collect data on the base price for drugs manufactured or imported into Uzbekistan, other additional costs such as duties, clearing charges, taxes, storage fees, and transport costs, markups, dispensing fees for drugs that pass through the public and commercial and semi-private systems;
    Conduct a literature review of both published and gray materials on pharmaceuticals and Uzbekistan;
    Present findings in a stakeholder workshop.
    In order to obtain the most precise picture of the sector, the following activities were conducted:

    Meetings with the MoH, Pharmacology Committee and CPIB to clarify the objective of the assignment and the organization of the mission;
    Preparation and definition of a methodology for rapid assessment and development of approach for completion of study;
    Meetings and discussions with key partners, stakeholders and policy-makers.
    Assessment design was performed considering the following steps:

    Define the method of interview and rapid appraisal techniques (in-depth interviews, record
    review);
    Identify and select the geographic sites to be visited and the major stakeholders to be met;
    List the major topics to focus on;
    Organize the teamwork and review the activities schedule;
    Sample the drugs for the prices analysis.

  • An investigation on community-level influences on mental health amongst internally displaced persons in Georgia, 2011-2012

    The project was implemented by CIF in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (Dr. Bayard Roberts, Professor Martin McKee, Professor Vikram Patel and Dr. Nino Makhashvili). The project was funded by Wellcome Trust (United Kingdom).

    Aim of this research study is to deepen understanding of the extent to which community-based influences may help promote mental health (including alcohol use) amongst IDPs and returnees in Georgia. The study would provide rigorous evidence on the burden of depression, psychological distress, harmful alcohol use, and also coping strategies amongst IDPs and returnees in Georgia. This information could be used to help inform appropriate responses from governmental and nongovernmental agencies. This would be one of the first studies globally to specifically explore the way in which community factors may help promote the mental health of IDP and returnees.

  • Problems related to the unsafe injection practice in the Health care facilities of Georgia-Policy Brief, research report, 2011

    In accordance with the results of Global Disease Survey conducted by World Health Organization in 2000, every year 21 million people are infected with B Hepatitis, 2 million – with Hepatitis C and 260 thousand are infected with HIV by means of contaminated injection. 40% of B and C Hepatitis incidences among medical personnel are associated with professional activities[1].

    Current policy brief involves goals and findings of the study undertaken by Curatio International Foundation. The study looked at a) whether facilities meet necessary requirements of injection practices, equipment use and medical materials and waste management; b) Determining whether injection procedures are implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the best practice; c) Identifying practices posing risk over patients, personnel and society in order to implement respective interventions.

    Read policy brief and full version of the research report to learn more on background situation, findings and recommendations. (document is available in Georgian).

     

  • Health care in Georgia is currently available for very rich and very poor

    As the lead key informant to the policy brief on Medical Insurance for the Poor: impact on access and affordability of health services in Georgia says, the “health care in Georgia is currently affordable for very reach and very poor”. This conclusion grounds on the findings of the study that explored one of the most critical issues- affordability of health care services in Georgia. The matter is among top five most important national issues for a large part of the Georgian population. Medical Insurance for the Poor (MIP), a public program initiated in 2007, provides private insurance coverage to one fifth of the Georgian population and is aimed to protect its beneficiaries from financial hardship and impoverishment that may be caused by health care expenditures.

    The study assessed the impact of Medical Health Insurance (MIP) for the Poor on equity in access to essential health care services and financial protection against health care costs for the poor and general population. The document briefly describes identified accomplishments and shortcoming of the public private partnership in realization of MIP and discusses emerging policy options and policy recommendations on the future of MIP.

    The study was financially and technically supported by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research/World Health Organization and carried out by Curatio International Foundation.

    Read the full version of the Policy Brief here to find out more on key findings, achievements and policy recommendations.

    Read the full study report.

  • Presentation of the findings of Assessment of Complex Non-Communicable Condition in Low Income Countries

    Use of Multi-Method Rapid Evaluation to Assess Complex Non-Communicable Condition in Low Income Countries

    At Geneva Health Forum 2012 Curatio International Foundation presented a study preliminary findings which looks at evaluation of health systems performance in low-resource settings with regard to diabetes management. With the use of multi-method rapid evaluation the authors assess complex non-communicable condition (diabetes) in five Former Soviet Union countries.

    The study seeks to identify core problems and pragmatic policy options will be developed to address these gaps. The study is implemented in the frame of the 7th framework program supported HITT-CIS project.

    Authors: Dina Balabanova, Martin McKee, Ivdity Chikovani, Oksana Ivanuto. Presented by Ivdity Chikovani

    See the abstract here.

    See the Newsletter.

  • Bio Behavioral Surveillance Survey with biomarker component among HIV/AIDS risk groups, identifying the number of injective drug users (IDU), operations survey, 2012

    The project was implemented with financial support from Global Projects Implementation Center.

    The project “Behavioral Surveillance Survey with biomarker component on HIV/AIDS in high risk groups, identifying the number of injective drug users, operations survey” aimed at creating credible/valuable source of information which will serve as the evidence for planning national programs on HIV/AIDS and assessing national response.

    In terms of targeting HIV/AIDS risk groups the objectives of the project was as following: a) Conducting bio-behavioral surveillance surveys among high risk groups, b) defining the number of injective drug users and c) conducting operations survey. All these objectives served the goal of identifying barriers that impede injective drug users to receive counselling and testing services.
    Behavioral surveys with bio-marker component among high risk groups took place within the time frame set by the HIV/AIDS National Plan among IDUs, prisoners, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men (MSM).

    The following serways were implemented:

    The project was implemented by the Curatio International Foundation, National Center for Desease Control and Public Heatlh, public union “Bemoni” and Medical-Psychological Association “Tanadgoma”.

  • Main findings of Catastrophic Health Expenditure Analysis in Georgia

    The researcher of the Curatio International Foundation Natia Rukhadze presented the findings of Catastrophic Health Expenditure Analysis in Georgia at the “Seminar on Health Financing Reforms in Georgia” held in MoLHSA on October 26, 2011.

    The study was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and uses the data from nationally representative Integrated Household Survey (HIS) conducted by National Statistical Office (GEOSTAT) on an annual basis; Study looked at trends in household catastrophic health spending during 2006-2010 among different population groups. The purpose of the study was to look at population level impact of the Government’s health financing reforms initiated in 2006/07 and aimed at providing state subsidized health insurance to extremely poor.

    See the full report of the study.