Strengthening the Provision of Accessible and Quality Assured Laboratory Services in Namibia through the Namibia Institute of Pathology for Sustained Epidemic Control of HIV and TB under PEPFAR

The Award Ceiling for Year 1 is 0 (none). CDC anticipates an Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding amount of $3,500,000 for Year 1, subject to the availability of funds. Over the next five years, diagnostic network optimization (DNO) within the laboratory system will be the primary overarching activity since it pinpoints deficiencies and strengthens the identified gaps remaining to reach sustained epidemic control of HIV and TB in Namibia, as well as responds to outbreak needs as they occur. Broadly, the activities under this NOFO will include: 1) the establishment of a national transport system using the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) system as a base, 2) workflow analyses to assess testing needs based on number of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 3) assessment of instrument utilization, and 4) establishment of a national unique patient identifier. These activities will enable the country to better track patients from one viral load (VL) test to the next to ensure suppression rates are accurate for all patients on ART, enhance and expand infant diagnosis to greater than the current 80% coverage, and ensure that all HIV patients that are dually infected with TB are diagnosed and treated.