HIV is a chronic disease, requiring lifelong antiretroviral treatment—and local systems that can manage HIV prevention, care, and treatment over the long term. Local ownership in foreign assistance in the pursuit of the above is widely acknowledged as invaluable, as well as building local capacity to help countries transition from aid, design and implement locally appropriate programs, and shift accountability for program results to local actors.
PEPFAR has shifted its approach over the past decade to help build local capacity and foster greater sustainability. In keeping with these goals, the University of Maryland, Baltimore is ensuring that PEPFAR investments and successes are sustained through knowledge transfer to a local indigenous organization. This led to the creation of Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity—Kenya (Ciheb-Kenya), a local indigenous organization.
Ciheb-Kenya was registered on March 9th 2020, and is managed by Kenyans with extensive HIV experience including national policy and guideline development, planning and coordinating HIV response at the national and county level, as well as implementation of HIV services at the facility level. The leadership of Ciheb-Kenya has extensive experience managing PEPFAR-funded HIV programs nationally and has a solid understanding of US government grants management, including financial reporting systems and standards.
Ciheb-Kenya’s aim is to strengthen the public health response through the provision of quality services, capacity building, strengthening health systems and surveillance, and contributing to the global health security agenda.