ESTHER SUPPORT SYSTEM

Partners who are present

Chronology

In 2005, the GIP ESTHER Board of Directors approved the development of a partnership between GIP ESTHER and Togo within the framework of the Second Financing Phase (2004-2008) of the ESTHER Initiative.

Creation of the ESTHER partnership with Togo was carried out in two successive stages:

§ The aim of the first GIP ESTHER mission that took place at the end of May 2006 was to identify needs in institutional support and the possibilities of an ESTHER-Togo partnership. The mission also identified, in association with the SCAC and the French Embassy, a need for support in drafting a proposal for Round 6 of the Global Fund. Three (3) technical assistance missions in different domains of competence (biology, paediatrics, comprehensive treatment and care) were sent by GIP ESTHER in July 2006 in association with the SCAC in order to help the country in the finalisation of the drafting of its national proposal.

§ With the ministerial agreement between France and Togo signed on May 7, 2007, the second mission was organized in June 2007 in concertation with the Togolese authorities. This joint mission (GIP ESTHER, in charge of Projects + Counselling in community and local development) with CHU Cochin made it possible to identify job priorities in hospitals and to evaluate the situation of the community structures involved in the treatment and care of PLWHA. A 6-month priority project was then drawn up for implementation in 2008.

Administrative positioning of the ESTHER projects was carried out in September 2008 and several exchanges occurred between the teams: 2 interns from CHU Kara (gynaecology and paediatrics) were received at CHU Cochin; a familiarisation trip was taken by a multi-disciplinary team from CHU Tokoin (Lomé) to Yaoundé Central Hospital in November 2008 in order to study the means to reorganize the hospital departments at CHU Tokoin with the view to developing an outpatient therapy package.

At the end of 2008, the ESTHER Initiative was contributing to the treatment and care of 394 regularly monitored ARV patients including 80 children.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN 2008

§ Reinforcement of the capacities of those who provide care and support

- Two missions to evaluate the situation and identify the needs of the French partner hospital team - CHU Cochin.

- Clinical training workshop with the sharing of experience in treatment and care.

§ Psychosocial support of patients

- Evaluation of the managerial capacities and services offered by the associations and NGOs of Lomé and Kara that are involved in the treatment and care of PLWHA (self-evaluation).

- Consultation workshop between the actors from hospitals, associations and institutions.

§ Paediatrics/PMTCT

- Internships at CHU Cochin (gynaecologist + paediatrician).

§ Procurement and dispensing circuits

- Training at the CHMP for a pharmacy manager from the national medicines store (CAMEG).

- 2 expertise missions (CHMP): inventory of ARV management, distribution and dispensing circuits.

§ Support for the national system

- Technical support for drafting a proposal for Round 8 (pharmaceutical expertise).

- Technical support by ESTHER within the framework of Round 8: Togo chose to use ESOPE on a national scale.

- Technical support for the dispensing of ARV at treatment sites.