Designup

Category: Project

  • Sentinel Surveillance Method to Provide Reliable HIV/AIDS Statistical Data

    In the framework of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” Curatio International Foundation has launched 2 sentinel surveillance sites at STI clinics.

    In March 2009 two surveillance sites were established at STI Clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi. The effort representing one of the components of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” aimed at calculating HIV prevalence among sub-population. Both sites were equipped with test systems necessary for implementation of sentinel epidemiological surveillance. During four months 988 and 254 patients have been tested in Tbilisi and Batumi respectively.

    Collection of data through sentinel surveillance will make possible to provide evidence-grounded HIV/AIDS statistics and strenghten HIV/AIDS surveillance in Georgia.

    The results of the survey will be available by the end of July.

    In the framework of the same project the Behavior Surveillance Surveys (BSS) with biomarker component among intravenous drug users (IDUs), Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs), and prisoners has been carried out.

  • Curatio International Foundation Contributes to Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives

    Curatio International Foundation is a member of Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network (GHIN). As a part of the WHO Maximizing Positive Synergies publication “Interactions between Global Health Initiatives and Health Systems: Evidence from countries” Georgia Case study “System-wide effects of the Global Fund on Georgia’s health care systems” was prepared by highly qualified experts of the Curatio International Foundation.

    The Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network (GHIN) is a network of researchers in 21 countries Georgia being one of them in the face of Curatio International Foundation. The network explores the impact of Global Health Initiatives(GFATM, MAP, PEPFAR) on existing health systems and health system development of the recipient countries. Network focuses on collecting evidence of these effects from regions and communities, in order to inform policy development at national and international level.

    In the framework of the network and in close collaboration with WHO Maximizing Positive Synergies publication “Interactions between Global Health Initiatives and Health Systems: Evidence from countries” has been developed and presented for discussion on June 23, 2009 to the G8 Development Ministers’ Meeting in Venice, Italy.

    As a part of this publication Georgia case study “System-wide effects of the Global Fund on Georgia’s health care systems”was prepared by Ketevan Chkhatarashvili, George Gotsadze and Natia Rukhadze (Curatio International Foundation). Case study is based on the findings of two surveys conducted in Georgia by CIF during 2004-2008. Surveys aimed to learn possible impact of GFATM funding on countries’ health care system development.

  • Health in Times of Transition

    Health in Times of Transition: Trends in Population Health and Health Policies in CIS countries (“HITT-CIS”) is primarily funded by the European Commission (DG Research – FP7). HITT-CIS is a large scale international study of 10 post-soviet countries that tries to understand long-term trends in population health, social and economic burden of disease, living conditions, patterns of nutrition, habits of alcohol and tobacco consumption, public health policies, access to health care. The overall aim of HITT is to contribute to the improvement of the health of the populations and health care systems CIS countries. Project started in the spring 2009 and will continue until 2013. HITT-CIS research consortium is a partnership of 13 teams from leading universities and research companies from the European Union, the CIS and Canada. CIF participates as an expert partner in the consortium and works in collaboration with the LSHTM.

    For further information read the publication.

  • National Conference in the framework of the Global Fund funded project

    On December 24, 2008 the first phase of the project “Establishment of evidence base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening of HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” was closed by the National Conference.

    The event highlighted crowning achievements of the project and aimed at presenting National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan, Electronic Management Information System and all activities implemented on the path of project implementation period.

    The convention hosted the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs, Head of the Health and Social Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament, and representatives from donor organizations, National Center for Disease Control and Public health, Center of Infectious Disease, AIDS and Clinical immunology and NGOs focusing on HIV/AIDS issues.

    The first phase of the project covered the period from February 2008 till December 2008 and was implemented in the capital Tbilisi and regional city Batumi by Curatio International Foundation in partnership with Georgian Infectious diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Public Union “Bemoni” and association “Tanadgoma”. The effort is funded by the Global Fund.

  • CIF conducted a workshop in the framework of the project funded by the Global Fund

    On March 31, 2008 a stakeholder workshop to introduce project goal and objectives, project components, main activities and project time-frame was held at the Hotel “Ambasadori”. The workshop was organized in the framework of the project “Establishment of evidence base for HIV/AIDS national program, by strengthening surveillance system”, funded by the Global Fund and implemented by Curatio International Foundation in partnership with Georgian Infectious diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Public Union “Bemoni” and association “Tanadgoma”.

  • CIF and MoLHSA conduct a workshop on Integrated Model and Strategic Plan for the Health Information system development in Georgia

    On February 12, 2008 a stakeholder workshop to discuss an Integrated Model and Strategic Plan for the Health Information System development in Georgia was held at the Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoLHSA). The workshop was organized in the framework of the Health Metrics Network project implemented by CIF in collaboration with the MoLHSA.

    The workshop was attended by the senior level policymakers, stakeholders from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, the Health and Social Programs Agency, the State Department of Statistics, private insurance companies, representatives of all donor supported Projects involved in the strengthening of the health information system. It was facilitated by the Deputy Minister Nikoloz Pruidze. Introductory remarks including a rapid review of the project, activities implementing within the project, workshop agenda, detailed the purpose of the meeting and introducing presenters from Curatio International Foundation was made by the project manager Ketevan Goguadze. Taking into account that the workshop was attended by the high level policy makers it was considered crucial to discuss proposed model of the integrated HIS once again to reach consensus on this issue.

    Topics/questions discussed at the workshop:

    Organizational Structure of HIS Introduction of relevant changes in the legislation (e.g. law on health care, law on public health, and development of “Healthcare Code”), that are required to insure Health status and IDSR data reporting from all autonomous health care facilities to rayon/ municipal public health units Introduction of the unique identification of population

    Organization Structure of HIS: One of the key topics was related to the proposed integrated model of HIS. All stakeholders agreed that having NCDC regional branches would provide very good bases for institutionalizing and implementing upgraded HIS. Agreement has also been achieved on the issue related to the pooling and analysing the data at the regional level. NCDC regional structure would allow better monitoring quality of collected data, and providing technical assistance and on-the-job training to municipal Public Health units and healthcare facility staff collecting and reporting health data from grass root level. All participants also agreed that it is critically important to have public health services at the local level to ensure timely implementation of response measures in case of infectious disease outbreaks. As for their role in implementing HIS, under the proposed model, municipal (rayonal) PH units would be collecting data reports from individual facilities, and further submitting them to regional CPH. It was mentioned that making decision on creating NCDC regional branches is not only responsibility of the Ministry of Health. This issue requires further discussion at the cabinet of Ministers. Decision was made, that recommendations will be prepared and Minister of Health will submit to the Cabinet of Ministers for future discussion.

    Introduction of relevant changes in the legislation: there is a prominent need to introduce changes in the existing laws (mainly law on health care and the law on public health) considering the current context of health care system of Georgia. While recognizing the importance of improving the aforementioned laws, the most important initiative would be introduction of effective mechanisms for implementation of these laws in real life by including administrative sanctions for both private and public facilities/ providers not complying with the defined rules in the “Administrative Code”. Decision was made to create working group at the Ministry of health, that would revise existing laws and “Administrative Code”, make relevant changes and include applicable sanctions (mostly professional, administrative, and financial) for those providers, facilities and local public health units not reporting data to MoLHSA according to defined rules and standards.

    Unique identification of population- introduction of the unique identification of population was considered as very important for the country, however, given the complexity and high cost related to this issue it supposed to be long term perspective. It was also recognized that development of unique identification of population will require inter-sectoral approach and good coordination to make sure that main stakeholders such as line ministries and governmental agencies have coherent vision and implement activities in coordinated manner.

  • Effects of GFATM on Georgia's Health System Development

    The project funded by the Alliance for Health Policy and System Research (HPSR) was implemented in February 2006- 2008 by Curatio International Foundation. The proposed study is a continuation of the baseline research carried out in Georgia during 2004 in accordance with SWEF study protocol on GFATM impact on a national health system.

    The proposed study applied to the already developed study protocol and instruments. It helped evaluate GFATM impact on Georgia’s health system by looking at:

    Policy processes;
    Human resources;
    Pharmaceutical and commodity supply system;
    Public-private mix; and
    Access to services by HIV/AIDS high risk groups and TB patients.
    Results of the study inform the primary health care reform policies of the country about the aim to integrate services for focal diseases on a PHC level. In addition, results also contribute to global evidence on GFATM possible impact on a broader health system. The research findings have following policy relevance: they inform national, as well as international policy makers about where GFATM contributes to the strengthening of health care system in Georgia and what can be done to address weaknesses; it also informs policy makers about where national health care system has degree of similarity with the Georgian one and contribute to the body of evidence being generated by the SWEF research network.

  • Solution to Diarrheal Control in the NIS Region

    The project was implemented in the period of October 2007- December 2008 in partnership with National Center for Disease Control and Medical Statistics (NCDC), Ministry of Labour, Health, and Social Affairs (MoLHSA), and Pediatric Division of Tbilisi State Medical University, and with the financial support of PATH. The project aimed at enhancing Diarrhea Disease (EDD) Control Initiative in Georgia and carrying out activities in support of countries in the EE/CA region to implement their national diarrheal disease control plans.

    Several countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EE/CA) struggle with high rates of diarrheal disease morbidity and mortality among young children.

    These new interventions, rotavirus vaccines, zinc treatment, and low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution (ORS), complement existing approaches such as oral rehydration therapy (ORT), exclusive breastfeeding, and improved sanitation and hygiene, and will contribute significantly to meaningful reductions in morbidity and mortality in many countries. Introduction of these new interventions is hampered by a lack of awareness and diminished prioritization for diarrheal disease control. To overcome this, PATH has created the Diarrhea Disease (EDD) Control Initiative. The goal of EDD is to reprioritize diarrheal disease control at the country-level and develop or revise national diarrheal disease control plans to ensure rapid up-take of new prevention and treatment interventions, and to reinforce the use of established interventions.

    With this aim, under the leadership of PATH/CIF, national working group in Georgia developed the Strategic Plan to improve the control of DD in Georgia with focus on children under-5 for 2008-2010. The plan was presented in Tbilisi, Georgia on January 23-24, 2008 at the EURO/Central Asia Regional workshop “Rotavirus and Diarrheal Disease Control,” held in the frame of the Project. The workshop brought together 50 representatives from EE/CA countries, WHO, UNICEF, and GAVI to share the current evidence, and determine the level of interest, needs, priorities, and concerns of the stakeholders. Participants from following eight countries of EE/CA region attended the workshop: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz republic, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Participants included leaders and representatives of various sectors involved in child health care, infectious disease surveillance and control, and immunization.

    Other activities carried out in the frame of the project:

    Develop the National Quality Assurance Manual on Diarrheal Diseases for laboratory system. The Manual covers the following diseases: Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Escherichiosis, Campylobacteriosis, Cholera, Adenovirus, Non-Polio Enterovirus, Rotavirus, Norovirus infections, Hepatitis A, Amebiasis. The QAM is available on Georgian, English and Russian languages;
    Review and provide Recommendations on the National Breastfeeding Indicators;
    Inform local pharmaceutical manufacturers on the new treatment methods (new formulation ORS, zinc) by providing useful materials, assisting in contact building to facilitate appearance of new products at the local market;
    Incorporate the modern recommendations for Diarrheal Diseases control into the Family Medicine and Paediatrics Residency Program training curricula;
    Update the National Immunization Program financial management tool (cMYP) that enables to estimate and project costs of the Rotavirus vaccination introduction in the routine immunization calendar.

  • National Avian Influenza Surveillance Guidelines

    In 2007 two editions of the guideline were published within the framework of the project Strengthening Surveillance, IEC and Procurement Planning to address Avian Influenza in Georgia. The guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations addressed to the Georgian health system workers on how to promptly identify report, confirm, and classify potential cases of avian influenza in humans; analyze data; investigate and respond to the cases and outbreaks; improve other aspects of early warning system for humans. These guidelines are the most appropriate for the current and the next stages of pandemic preparedness (phases 3 to 4 of the World Health Organization [WHO] Pandemic Alert Period) and are designed primarily for health personnel working at the regional public health centers. In addition to general recommendations, the guidelines include specific sections devoted to the communication with the public infection control in health facilities.

  • Introductory Workshop on National Health Accounts in Azerbaijan

    Dr. George Gotsadze, Director of Curatio International Foundation, traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan during May 16-18, 2007. Dr. Gotsadze was invited within the frame of Primary Health Care (PHC) Strengthening Project in Azerbaijan to contribute to the introductory workshop on National Health Accounts (NHA) organized for the national team in Azerbaijan.

    Dr. Gotsadze gave presentation on using NHA data for informing the national policy making process and presented the Georgian experience on introduction and institutionalization of NHA.

    See the presentation 1.
    See the presentation 2.