Authors
Julio Pacca, Denise Jacobson, Alexa Smith-Rommel
The Efficiencies for Clinical HIV/AIDS Outcomes (ECHO) project, a $239 million, seven-year USAID-led and PEPFAR-funded initiative, is at the forefront of supporting Mozambique in achieving HIV epidemic control. Operating across four provinces and supporting 150+ health facilities, ECHO is dedicated to ensuring 95 percent of eligible patients are tested for HIV, 95 percent of people living with HIV receive treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Abt has launched a series of technical briefs that provide insights into ECHO’s key strategies, successes, and lessons learned.
Localization: ECHO’s efforts support the transfer of project ownership to local leaders and the strengthening of local systems. ECHO is paving the way for a sustainable HIV response that can be wholly led by local governments, community organizations, and other local leaders.
Read the Localization Technical Brief (July 2024)
Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) Models: ECHO implements innovative DSD models that address challenges such as barriers to patient access, long clinic wait times, missed appointments, and the need for patient privacy. These patient-centered approaches align with Mozambique Ministry of Health priorities and are designed to reduce losses, increase retention, and facilitate reintegration back into care when needed.
Read the Differentiated Service Delivery Models Technical Brief (July 2024)
Viral Load (VL) Suppression: Increasing viral load testing coverage and suppression is critical to controlling and ending the HIV epidemic. ECHO’s multi-level strategy enhances VL literacy among patients, minimizes missed testing opportunities, and ensures timely access to services. ECHO also focuses on retaining patients with high VL counts or those who have defaulted on treatment through targeted outreach. Key lessons learned emphasize the importance of process efficiency, offering valuable insights for future implementation.