Featured project: Strengthening South Africa’s Revitalised Response to HIV and Health (SARRAH)
With over 5.5 million people living with HIV, South Africa has the greatest AIDS burden in the world. This and other historical factors have placed huge stresses on the public health system.
 The South African government has begun an ambitious health improvement programme which aims to provide universal, free, quality health care at the point of delivery. In response, in 2010, the UK government launched the £25 million, five-year programme, Strengthening South Africa’s Revitalised Response to AIDS and Health (SARRAH) which is being implemented by HLSP.
SARRAH provides technical advice, strategic funding and other support to national initiatives to strengthen South Africa’s response to HIV and health.
SARRAH is based on partnerships with leading national players in HIV and health. Key partners are the Ministry and National Department of Health. Through the programme, HLSP provides them with assistance for projects that increase access to medicines, improve the health information system and strengthen planning and financial management in the health sector. SARRAH is also supporting strategies to improve access to health services in poorer parts of the country, as well as their quality, establish independent regulatory bodies and a National Health Insurance scheme.
SARRAH also works with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) the national body that coordinates all partners working in HIV and AIDS, by assisting the Secretariat and its monitoring and evaluation unit. Further support is given to agencies and organisations that monitor the national HIV response and advocate for expanded access to HIV services, such as the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). The programme will support the development of a cross-party parliamentary committee on HIV and AIDS, which, when established, will strengthen oversight of the national HIV response.
For more information, please visit the SARRAH website at www.sarrahsouthafrica.org or contact Lesley Lawson at lesley.lawson@hlsp.org
|