Kenya

To better understand the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries, and to advance STI diagnosis and treatment in alignment with new global World Health Organization STI management guidelines, there is a need to move toward a diagnostic-led approach that provides same-day, same-visit result and treatment, particularly for asymptomatic patients and high-risk populations. Through this project, Jhpiego and partner ICRH/Kenya are working to validate a new, research-use-only, point-of-care (POC) diagnostic test for STIs against approved gold standard technologies. The project, funded by the Gates Foundation, will also describe operational considerations for use of the POC test, while using the results of approved gold standard technologies for clinically managing STIs among the study populations.

This three-year project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, is led by the Kenya Medical Training College. The project seeks to strengthen human resources for health, quality management and community health systems at national and county levels in Kenya to improve equity, resource optimization and quality of essential health services. Jhpiego’s role as a subcontractor is to improve quality management systems by supporting the Ministry of Health and focus counties to develop a sustainable quality management program by improving skills and strengthening institutional capacity for quality planning, assurance and improvement.

MOMENTUM is a suite of projects, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, that aims to accelerate reductions in maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity in high-burden countries by increasing host country commitment and capacity to provide high-quality, integrated health care. Each of the projects has a specific focus area; together they provide a comprehensive, flexible package of support for countries as they overcome context-specific health challenges towards sustainable development. The six-year, Jhpiego-led MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership project focuses on: 1) providing targeted technical and capacity development assistance to our missions, partner countries and local organizations; and 2) contributing to global technical leadership and policy dialogue for improved maternal, newborn and child health outcomes. Jhpiego’s sub-partners under this project are: Save the Children, Johns Hopkins University International Vaccine Access Center, Quicksand, Matchboxology, BAO Systems, Avenir Health, McKinsey and Company, PACT, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Christian Connections for International Health and Ubora Quality Institute.

With funding from Johnson & Johnson, Jhpiego is leveraging the lessons learned and strong partnerships developed under a previous project, the Obstetric Safe Surgery project, to build surgical capacity to treat obstetric fistula, establish a Fistula Center and help improve access to obstetric fistula services in Makueni County, Kenya. This project also fosters safe, high-quality respectful care, and ensures successful rehabilitation and reintegration following repair.

RISE is a five-year global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). RISE works with countries to achieve a shared vision of attaining and maintaining epidemic control, with stronger local partners capable of managing and achieving results through sustainable, self-reliant and resilient health systems by 2024. RISE’s contributions to this work will lead to fewer new HIV infections, decreased HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and increased quality of life for people living with HIV. With USAID PEPFAR investments, RISE supports countries to achieve and maintain epidemic control by providing strategic technical assistance and direct service delivery to improve HIV prevention, case finding, treatment programming and viral load suppression. The primary objectives of the RISE project are to: 1) attain and maintain HIV epidemic control among at-risk adult men, women and priority populations; 2) attain and maintain HIV epidemic control among key populations; 3) strengthen health systems including improved program management, health information systems, human resources for health and financial systems to ensure attainment and maintenance of epidemic control; and 4) support the transition of direct funding and implementation to capable local partners to meet the PEPFAR goal of 70% of funding to local partners by 2020. The project is led by Jhpiego with the following partners: ICAP at Columbia University, Management Sciences for Health, Anova, BAO Systems, Johns Hopkins University Center for Public Health and Human Rights and Mann Global Health. RISE is currently active in several countries, including Kenya.

Jhpiego is implementing a four-year research project, funded by the Gates Foundation, to evaluate the effectiveness of delivering HIV oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through private, brick-and-mortar pharmacies. Private retail pharmacies are more ubiquitous and feature longer opening hours, shorter wait times and greater client privacy than public health care facilities. Jhpiego is collaborating with research partners to implement, refine and assess: 1) a range of approaches related to client identification and PrEP service delivery; 2) the performance of HIV self-testing to support pharmacy PrEP delivery; and 3) the impact of various cost-sharing models on PrEP uptake. The partners are: the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology/Partners in Health Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute and the University of Washington. Ultimately, this work will contribute an evidence base for policy advocacy that can bring this private pharmacy approach to scale within Kenya and globally.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases, yet there is still disproportionate access to it, specifically among girls and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. The HAPPI Consortium, funded by the Gates Foundation, was launched to increase and sustain access and program quality, and accelerate coverage of HPV vaccination. John Snow, Inc. and HAPPI Consortium partners Jhpiego, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, International Vaccine Access Center and PATH are focusing on enabling evidence-based policy decisions, enhancing and sustaining equity, improving program quality, providing direct technical assistance in selected countries and monitoring, evaluating and learning to build on the evidence base. Specifically, Jhpiego is supporting the HAPPI/HPV Accelerator-Phase 1 Project to facilitate global coordination and provide HPV vaccine support in several countries, including Kenya.

With funding from the Gates Foundation, Jhpiego is developing a virtual care model that allows clients to access HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through an e-pharmacy. Jhpiego is collaborating with partners to design and evaluate an end-to-end e-pharmacy PrEP delivery model that provides clients a convenient, seamless, empathetic and discreet experience of supported self-care through a single, trusted point of contact. Partners in this initiative include: MYDAWA (an e-pharmacy in Kenya that provides home delivery of products purchased online), the University of Washington, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology/Partners in Health Research and Development, and Audere (a non-profit software firm that develops diagnostic aids for self-testing of malaria, COVID-19 and influenza). Jhpiego is providing implementation support to MYDAWA on the provision of PrEP services package through MYDAWA’s online platform, as well as leading advocacy efforts to ensure alignment with government policy and to translate research findings in support of policy changes to de-medicalize PrEP delivery.