EAC Integrated Health Programme (EIHP)

In an effort to address the growing burden of disease, the EAC Health department in line with Article 118 of the treaty for the establishment of the EAC, which calls for regional cooperation on health is implementing the Sida funded East African Integrated Health Programme (EIHP 2016 - 2020) as part of the efforts to deepen regional cooperation in the health sector to operationalize the EAC Health Sector Strategic Plan (2015-2020), EAC Health Policy, EAC HIV and AIDS Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan (2015-2020), EAC RMNCAH Policy Guideline (2016 – 2030) and the EAC RMNCAH Strategic Plan (2016-2021) All these instruments in one way or another promote integration of health services. The EAC Integrated RMNCAH and HIV/AIDS Scorecard (2018) which was developed as part of the EIHP to promote the integration of SRH/RMNCAH and HIV/AIDS policies, programmes and services.

The 35th Council of Ministers approved operationalization of the “EAC-Sida Integrated Health Programme - EIHP (2016-2020)” following the recommendation made by the 12th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health in order to ensure Continuity and Sustainability of high impact interventions for advancing the HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Maternal New-born Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) in the region. Among many objectives of EIHP, the objective 2 and 3 of the programme emphasizes on “Strengthening SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV and AIDS research, innovations and knowledge management in the EAC” and “Strengthening SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV and AIDS Leadership, Governance and Accountability in the EAC” respectively.

 

I. Introduction/Context

The EAC Integrated Health Programme (EIHP) commenced in April 2017 following approval was approval by the 13th EAC Sectoral Council of Health which was held in November 2016 and by the 35th EAC Council of Ministers in April 2017. The goal of the programme is to contribute towards the elimination of preventable maternal, new-born and child deaths, AIDS and improvement of wellbeing among women, children, adolescents and families in the East African Community. The programme has 5 objectives as listed below:

      i.         Harmonize and integrate SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV&AIDS, TB and STIs Service Packages, Standards and Guidelines in the East African Community;

     ii.         Strengthen SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV&AIDS, TB and STIs Research, Innovations and Knowledge Management in the EAC;

    iii.         Strengthen SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV& AIDS, TB and STIs Leadership, Governance and Accountability in the EAC;

    iv.         Strengthen the EAC Regional and National Health Systems towards universal health coverage of SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV &AIDS, TB and STIs services; and

     v.         Strengthen the capacity of EAC Secretariat and Partner States to coordinate and implement the project and related global and Africa regional Initiatives

 

The following activities were scheduled to be undertaken during the July 2019 to December 2019 reporting period:

Objective #1: To Harmonize and integrate SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV/AIDS Service Packages, Standards and Guidelines in the East African Community

i).      Conduct the baseline assessment and submit a final situation analysis report of RMNCAH/HIV&AIDS Service Packages, Standards and Guidelines in the East African Community Partner States, Proposed harmonized RMNCAH/HIV&AIDS Service Packages, Standards and Guidelines in the East African Community Partner States; 

a.     To convene a Regional workshop to finalize consolidation of the RMNCAH and HIV & AIDS National reports into a Regional Report and validate it

b.     Convene a regional validation meeting on the draft EAC Regional minimum package on RMNCAH/HIV Services and the Draft Report on the situation of STIs, prevention, diagnosis and treatment practices in EA

 

ii).     Develop the minimum package, Standards and Guidelines for HIV and AIDS, STI, TB in the EAC region.

Conduct a regional baseline assessment and submit a final situation analysis report on STI prevalence, packages, standards and guidelines and management practices and the harmonized STI management packages, standards and guidelines in the EAC region and proposed harmonized EAC regional algorithm for prevention, treatment and diagnosis of STIs;

a.     Field work/data collection - document review, KIIs, FGDs and questionnaire survey/Exit Interviews - assessment of RMNCAH and HIV/AIDS Integration the EAC Partner States

b.     Convene 1 expert meeting to review and provide inputs to the draft EAC regional algorithm for prevention, treatment and diagnosis of STIs

 

Objective #2: To Strengthen SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV&AIDS, TB and STIs Research, Innovations and Knowledge Management in the EAC.

iii).    Continued improvement of the EAC web portal

 

Objective #4:  Objective 4: Strengthen the EAC Regional and National Health Systems towards universal coverage of SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV and AIDS services

 

iv).    Strengthen the EAC Regional and National Health Systems towards universal coverage of SRHR/RMNCAH and HIV and AIDS services through convening of the 2nd Donors and investor round table in preparation to mobilize resources for investment in health

Objective #5:  Strengthen the capacity of EAC Secretariat and Partner States to coordinate and implement the project and related global and Africa regional Initiatives

 

v).     Develop the human resource and operational capacity of EAC Secretariat and Partner States to coordinate and implement SRHR/HIV and AIDS and the project.

a.     Staff development and capacity building to enhance sustainable implementation of the EAC integrated

b.     Procure and install office equipment and supplies, and Audit fees

 

vi).    Provide Programme Coordination and Oversight Support

a.     Convene biannual Programme Joint Steering Committee Meetings (one face to face and one by Video

b.     convening of Technical / Expert Working Group Meeting to review progress and validate regional instruments and tools

 

vii).  Midterm Evaluation report for the EIHP programme disseminated and findings used to improve the programme.