On 14-15 March 2016, the WP8 lead partner CHIP (REGIONH), Denmark, and the coordinator of HA-REACT, THL, met their work package partners from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia in Riga, Latvia. Guided by a logical framework approach (LFA), the meeting set the WP8 workplan for the coming years.
The two main deliverables discussed were:
- an action-oriented report in non-technical language for stakeholders such as policy-makers and NGOs on PWID barriers to accessing HIV, HCV and TB services and on strategies for overcoming these barriers ; and
- a tailored guidance document on the utilization of funding mechanisms for action son HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and TB, specifically addressing resource allocation and mobilization and the use of diversified funding approaches to reach priority groups, particularly people who inject drugs (piloted in the focus countries).
For the report on strategies to overcome barriers the group reviewed a draft survey and detailed plans for a literature review that will map barriers to accessing HIV, HCV and TB services, as well as the funding and sustainability of services. The survey is planned to be launched by summer and will cover all EU countries. It will be coupled with a policy environment review of the Joint Action focus countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary.
The following are the WP8 partners:
- Centre for Health and Infectious Disease Research, CHIP (REGIONH), Denmark
- Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (HCDCP), Greece
- National Public Health and Medical Officers’ Service, Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO), Hungary (FOCUS COUNTRY)
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases ‘Lazzaro Spallanzani’ (INMI), Italy
- Centre For Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia (FOCUS COUNTRY)
- Vilnius Centre for Addictive Disorders, Lithuania (FOCUS COUNTRY)
- National AIDS Centre of Poland (NAC)
- Association SKUC, Slovenia
- Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH), Germany