RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program's Contributions to the National HIV and TB Programs, 2015–2020
JF Global Health: Science and Practice
JO GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT
FD Johns Hopkins University- Global Health. Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs
SP e2100574
DO 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00574
VO 10
IS 2
A1 Ario, Alex R.
A1 Bulage, Lilian
A1 Wibabara, Yvette
A1 Muwereza, Peter
A1 Eurien, Daniel
A1 Kabwama, Steven N.
A1 Kwesiga, Benon
A1 Kadobera, Daniel
A1 Turyahabwe, Stavia
A1 Musinguzi, Joshua B.
A1 Wanyenze, Rhoda K.
A1 Nasirumbi, Pamela M.
A1 Lukoye, Deus
A1 Harris, Julie R.
A1 Mills, Lisa A.
A1 Nelson, Lisa J.
YR 2022
UL http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/10/2/e2100574.abstract
AB Key FindingsDuring 2015–2020, the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program (UPHFP) a total of 67 fellows have been trained and have worked on 127 HIV and TB-related epidemiology projects.Involving UPHFP fellows in timely, programmatically relevant projects has increased effectiveness in HIV and TB prevention and control, and integrating UPHFP within the Ministry of Health has enabled Uganda to move steadily toward achieving HIV and TB epidemic control.Key ImplicationsFuture steps that will ensure UPHFP HIV and TB projects are maximally informative and that results directly inform policy and program improvement include widening project identification and mentorship to include other key implementing partners and stakeholders.Other countries with similar programs could benefit from utilizing fellows to support HIV and TB epidemic control.Despite remarkable progress in controlling HIV and TB, Uganda is one of the 30 high-burden TB/HIV countries. Approximately 53,000 Ugandans had a new HIV diagnosis in 2019, and approximately 88,000 Ugandans had a TB diagnosis in 2020. Fellows in the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program (UPHFP) work directly with the Ministry of Health AIDS and TB Control Programs, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UPHFP supervisors, and implementing partners to investigate and evaluate HIV-related and TB-related issues. These activities have contributed to the Uganda HIV and TB programs. UPHFP fellows complete projects in 7 competency domains, including outbreak investigations, surveillance evaluations, and data quality improvement. Priority HIV/AIDS/TB information gaps/topics are identified in consultation with key stakeholders, and fellows complete projects to guide program improvements and policy decisions. During 2015–2020, UPHFP fellows implemented 127 HIV and TB projects covering key program areas in AIDS and TB control programs, including care and treatment (16 projects), TB/HIV (18), prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (24), key and priority populations (9), pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (7), adolescent girls and young women (6), service delivery (13), and diagnosis of TB including drug-resistant TB and TB in high-risk groups (32). These projects have helped improve retention, quality of care, and treatment outcomes for people living with HIV, HIV and TB coinfected patients, and TB patients. They have also contributed to the decrease in pediatric TB and infant HIV positivity rates and improved service delivery for key populations. UPHFP results were disseminated to relevant stakeholders such as government departments, implementing partners, districts, and the general community and guided decision making. UPHFP has significantly improved HIV and TB control in Uganda. Other countries with similar programs could benefit from this approach and utilize program fellows to support HIV and TB control.