Strengthening HIV and AIDS Response Partnerships (SHARP)

The SHARP team worked with the Ghana Health Service and the National AIDS Control Programme, with health planning bodies, and at the district and community levels with multiple traditional and formal sector entities, to achieve the following four goals:

1. conducting operations research and second-generation surveillance to guide evidence-based HIV programming across the continuum of care;
2. supporting the establishment and expansion of interventions among most-at-risk groups and in high transmission areas;
3. strengthening capacities of the national response at all levels; and
4. maintaining and ensuring HIV/AIDS programme information and results reporting integrated with the Government of Ghana (GOG) programme.

According to the organisers, the SHARP project has:

• focused its work on over 20,000 female sex workers (FSWs), 8,000 men who have sex with men (MSM), 8,000 non-paying partners (NPPs), and 10,000 people living with HIV (PLHIVs);
• developed tools, materials, and interventions that support behaviour change and improved access to quality services;
• facilitated performance-based funding and capacity-building for non-governmental organisation (NGO) implementing partners;
• developed knowledge management capacity and disseminated tools and best practices to NGOs and government;
• conducted research, monitoring and evaluation, performance feedback, and supervision activities;
• initiated and participated in evidence-based lobbying and advocacy for improved policies and programming at the national level; and
• provided systems strengthening and technical support for sustainable interventions and quality service delivery for NGO implementing partners.

Another project that was part of SHARP initiative is the Text Me! Flash Me! Helpline service which was launched in September 2008. This project used cell phone technology to provide most-at-risk populations in Ghana with HIV and AIDS information, referrals, and counselling services from qualified providers. While the initial pilot reached out to men who have sex with men (MSM) exclusively, it was expanded in February 2009 to include female sex workers (FSW).

The 5-year SHARP programme developed a number of tools and resources for HIV and AIDS prevention, including training manuals, discussion guides, and video clips.

HIV/AIDS