OpportunityTitle: Implementing Technical and Science Support Services (TSSS) in the Republic of Rwanda under PEPFAR
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) is an agency of the Government of Rwanda (GOR) Ministry of Health (MOH) and was created by law No54/2010 January 25, 2011. RBC was established as the national coordinating body for HIV/AIDS related interventions in Rwanda. RBC has the mandate to: establish and implement national HIV/AIDS controls strategy and policy; serve as the central organization for coordinating the development of national strategies and action plans with broad input from stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS control from public sector and civil society; and sensitize the general population about HIV prevention and control.      RBC also has the mandate to coordinate a multi-sector approach to HIV/AIDS activities within the country. Within the organizational structure of RBC are the following governmental entities: The Institute for HIV/AIDS, Disease, Prevention and Control (IPDPC), National Reference Laboratory and the National Center for Blood Transfusion. These GOR entities are what qualify RBC as the only organization to implement the activities set forth in this announcement.      The Institute for HIV/AIDS, Disease Prevention and Control (IHDPC) coordinates all national clinical programs for HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and other epidemic services. Its priority areas are the care and treatment of PLWHA, expansion of VCT, PMTCT and VMMC services, and epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS.      The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) has a mandate to oversee, support and develop a national laboratory program aligned with the decentralized health system. NRL develops policies and regulations for medical laboratories, conducts specialized testing, monitors the performance and operation of other laboratories in Rwanda, and establishes relations and collaborations with other national and international agencies carrying out similar responsibilities. No other agency in the public or private sector performs this responsibility. The need of the laboratory network to support the healthcare system is critical in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Rwanda.    The National Center for Blood Transfusion (NCBT) has been granted autonomy by the GOR to provide blood transfusion services to the people of Rwanda. It provides a comprehensive service to ensure an adequate and safe supply of blood and blood products. It is the only entity that provides blood transfusion services for the country. NCBT provides a full range of services including recruitment and retention of non-remunerated donors, screening of blood for transfusion transmissible infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis.
Description: The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to: provide Rwanda with resources to strengthen local capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS effectively and efficiently as well as to build a sustainable national HIV/AIDS program; strengthen the capacity of the top tier reference laboratory to perform and oversee laboratory services in Rwanda and to promote the quality of a laboratory network; and maintain an adequate safe blood supply with the implementation of a National Blood Transfusion policy and the capacity-building of the Regional Centers for Blood Transfusion, and health facilities. Objectives: &#149; Improve the quality of care and treatment programs of HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Hepatitis B and C, TB, opportunistic infections, other related comorbidities, and chronic diseases as well as strengthen the strategic information capacity of Rwanda to implement high quality monitoring, evaluation, surveillance, and survey initiatives &#149; Build capacity of Rwanda health professional through quality improvement activities, mentorship, supervision, and trainings including the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Program (FELTP) &#149; Support a national decentralized, high quality laboratory system according to the national Norms and Standards to enhance capacity for testing and clinical monitoring &#149; Promote a strengthened blood program in Rwanda with improved data management, traceability of donors and recipients, quality assurance programs, and accreditation
GrantorContactEmailDescription: PGO TIM
GrantorContactText: CDC &lt;br/&gt;Procurement and Grants Office &lt;br/&gt;Technical Information Management Section  &lt;br/&gt;(770) 488-2700