On-going Project
HJF Medical Research International LTDGte funded Programs/Projects
HJF Medical Research International Ltd Gte (HJFMRI Ltd Gte), in collaboration with the Military HIV Research Program (MHRP), is dedicated to enhancing HIV/AIDS care and treatment services. This mission is supported through various programs and projects managed by HIFASS, which oversees the personnel involved in these initiatives.
Contract Renewal and Funding
In October 2023, HIFASS renewed its contract with HJFMRI Ltd Gte to continue providing personnel management services in Nigeria. This agreement ensures ongoing HIV/AIDS care and treatment services, with HIFASS responsible for hiring and managing staff under the oversight of DOD WRP-N/HJFMRI Ltd Gte.
The Option Year 3 funding modification covers the period from April 1, 2024, to September 29, 2024. The overall funding amount has been adjusted from ₦2,401,303,018 to ₦2,204,905,110.74, reflecting a reduction to ₦196,397,907.83.
Program and Project Management
HIFASS manages healthcare workers who support research and enhance service delivery at military clinical sites in 21 Nigerian states, providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS services. These personnel are distributed across five key program/project sites:
- PEPFAR: HIFASS supplies manpower to 34 WRP-N/NMOD sites across Nigeria. These personnel execute HIV prevention, care, and treatment interventions, significantly contributing to the control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic through comprehensive program development and implementation.
- PMI (President’s Malaria Initiatives): Medical Laboratory Scientists lead the initiative to develop a National Malaria Slide Bank in Nigeria. They strengthen malaria diagnostics through capacity building and the creation of quality-assured blood films at four general hospitals: Benue State Teaching Hospital, General Hospital Wanune (Benue State), General Hospital Ikot Ekpene, and General Hospital Ikpe Anang (Akwa Ibom State).
- African Cohort Study - RV329: This 15-year longitudinal study, initiated in 2013, operates at three facilities: 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna (44NARHK), Defence Headquarters Medical Center Abuja (DHQMC Abj), and 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba (68NARHY). While research at 44NARHK has concluded, ongoing activities at DHQMC Abj and 68NARHY assess clinical practices, biological factors, and socio-behavioral issues affecting HIV infection and progression in Africa.
- Research RV-466: Beginning in 2017, this study on Severe Infectious Disease Surveillance and Detection in West Africa was conducted at 161 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Makurdi and 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba. The study, supported by HIFASS health professionals, explored the infectious causes and frequencies of severe acute illnesses. The implementation ended in Makurdi in April 2021 and in Yaba in October 2022, transitioning to the LASSA Epi protocol.
- LASSA EPI (EID 023): Commencing in October 2022, this community-based cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of Lassa virus (LASV) infection in Ikorodu Local Government Area (Lagos State). The protocol's successful implementation concluded in July 2023, leading to the initiation of the MPOX study.
- MPOX (EID 042): Launched in August 2023, this ongoing study examines the seroprevalence and risk factors of Mpox infection. It is conducted in rural and semi-urban communities within Abuja Municipal Area Council (FCT) and Ikorodu L.G.A (Lagos State).
Personnel Management
HIFASS is currently responsible for managing personnel for HJFMRI Ltd Gte's projects, ensuring the provision of comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment services across 34 WRP-N/NMOD sites, 4 state general hospitals, and 2 implementation centers in Nigeria. These efforts facilitate research and strengthen service delivery in HIV/AIDS care.
|
S/N |
State |
Sites/Offices |
|
1 |
FCT |
· HIFASS HQ · Health Innovation Center (MPOX) 1. Defence Headquarters Medical Centre Abuja 2. 063 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Abuja 3. Guards Brigade Medical Center, Abuja |
|
2 |
Kaduna |
4. Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna 5. 463 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Kaduna |
|
3 |
Kano |
6. Armed Forces Specialist Hospital Kano |
|
4 |
Sokoto |
7. 1 Division Hospital Sokoto |
|
5 |
Borno |
8. 7 Division Hospital Maiduguri |
|
6 |
Bauchi |
9. 33 Artillery Brigade Medical Centre Bauchi |
|
7 |
Benue |
10. 161 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Makurdi - BSUTH(PMI) - General Hospital, Wununne (PMI) |
|
8 |
Plateau |
11. 563 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Jos 12. 3 Division Hospital Rukuba |
|
9 |
Anambra |
13. 302 Medical Reception Station Onitsha |
|
10 |
Enugu |
14. 82 Division Hospital Enugu |
|
11 |
Imo |
15. 34 Brigade Medical Centre Owerri |
|
12 |
Cross River |
16. Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Calabar |
|
13 |
Delta |
17. Nigerian Navy Hospital Warri |
|
14 |
Edo |
18. Military Hospital Benin |
|
15 |
Rivers |
19. Military Hospital Port Harcourt 20. Nigerian Naval Medical Centre Onne 21. Nigerian Medical Center Borokiri, Rivers State 22. Nigerian Airforce Reference Hospital Port Harcourt |
|
16 |
Akwa Ibom 23. 6 Battalion MRS Ibagwa Abak |
23. 6 Battalion MRS Ibagwa Abak, 24. Nigerian Navy Jubilee FOB Sick bay Ikot Abasi 25. Nigeria Navy FOB Ibaka - General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene - General Hospital, Ikpe Anang |
|
17 |
Lagos |
26. 661 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Ikeja 27. Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Ojo 28. 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba 29. Military Hospital Creek VI 30. Nigerian Medical Center Obisesan Apapa |
|
18 |
Oyo |
31. 2 Division Hospital Ibadan |
|
19 |
Adamawa |
32. 23 Bridge Medical Center Yola |
|
20 |
Taraba |
33. 20 Battalion MRS Serti |
|
21 |
Abia |
34. 14 Bridge Medical Center Ohafia |
Since renewing the agreement in 2023 HIFASS has engaged and is currently managing over 107 personnel across the 6 program/project areas in 21 states in Nigeria.
Completed Projects
Local OVC Partners in Nigeria Region 3 (HIFASS-LOPIN 3)
Health Initiatives for Safety and Stability in Africa - Local OVC Partners in Nigeria Region 3 (HIFASS-LOPIN 3) started in 2014 as a five-year USAID-funded project, implementing the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program in Cross River and Ebonyi States, with the goal of mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and their households.
The project works to improve systems and structures at state, LGA and community levels to ensure provision of quality care, protection and support services to Children Living with HIV (CLHIV), Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV) and their households and support improved organizational and technical capacities of local CSOs to provide care and support services to CLHIV and ALHIV in all states of operation.
As at August 2018, 56,818 OVCs and Caregivers were catered for by the project. They received services in health, education, birth registration, psychosocial support, HIV Testing Services and economic empowerment for vulnerable households and adolescents in the form of seed grants for business startup, skill acquisition and receipt of start-up materials for business. After attainment of the nationally approved care level, 23,972 beneficiary OVCs and their households were graduated from the project. This graduation covered implementation sites in Ebonyi state and nine Local Government Areas in Cross River state.
With the realignment of PEPFAR activities in 2018, project activities were streamlined to five local government areas in Cross River state – Calabar South, Calabar Municipal, Akamkpa, Odukpani and Akpabuyo. Services received by the enrollees include Community Case Management, referral services, nutritional assessment as well as growth monitoring and referral of malnourished children to care, economic empowerment of highly vulnerable households, educational support, Gender Based Violence prevention and response, child and social protection services etc.
In 2019, USAID introduced the surge response to HIV strategy, after review of the National AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS). HIFASS-LOPIN 3 was given three additional states of implementation – Akwa Ibom, Kano and Adamawa State. With the same goal but with greater focus on children, the project is working hard to identify positive children, link them to treatment and ensure their caregivers are empowered with knowledge (for example – proper nutrition) and other areas including economic support, where necessary, so the children can receive appropriate care and lead normal lives.
Ultimately, it is expected that every child enrolled in the project will emerge healthy, safe, stable, schooled.
Global Fund (GF) -HIV New Funding Model (NFM)
In October 2018, HIFASS was sub-awarded a 9-month (3 October, 2018– 30 June, 2019) contract of NGN47,666,572.50 Society for Family Health (SFH) to implement the GF-HIV-NFM project. The project was implemented alongside with an FSW-led CBO, Passion and Concern for Women Welfare and Empowerment Initiative (PACOWWEI) in 3 LGAs of the Federal Capital Territory. It sought to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS among the key population by strengthening the capacity of Key Affected Populations (KAP) local organizations to deliver and impact positively in the lives of female sex workers with their clients at the grassroots level with key, high-quality HIV prevention and Minimum Prevention Package Intervention (MPPI) within Bwari, Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Council. The FSW component of the project was aimed at reaching high to higher risk Female Sex Worker (FSW) who are vulnerable to HIV using different approach that can best achieve a behavioral change and also the uptake of several biomedical services which include; STI syndromic management, HIV Testing Services, Condom use, Gender Based Violence referral. The MPPI target of 2440 given was reached and surpassed by 2658.
HJF-Provision of workforce (Research protocols at sites in Kaduna, Lagos and Abuja)
HJF-RV 230
HJF -RV 352
HJF-Research RV-368
Protection and Assistance to Cameroonian Refugees (PACR)
In April 2018, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) awarded HIFASS a grant of NGN41,413,336.00 to provide emergency assistance to refugees in Cross River and Benue states respectively. The response included distribution of food and non-food items, health assistance and shelter. The project whose goal was PB Emergency response was executed within 6 months (April 1– September 30, 2018). Public Health, Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services were provided to registered Cameroonian refugees in Benue and Cross River States and other new arrivals of Cameroonian refugees.
Strategic Integration of Nigeria Military HIV/AIDS Response (SINM-HAR)
30th September 2018 marked the final day of the Strategic Integration of Nigeria Military HIV/AIDS Response (SINM-HAR) project that lasted five years. Many lessons have been learned and many achievements have been made. The projects partners and all involved will now continue to spread knowledge about HIV Prevention and treatment; Family planning; HIV integration activities amongst others and hope to inspire others to take action!
The project SINM-HAR was a 3 year (2013-2016) structured comprehensive HIV/AIDS technical support program aimed at increasing access, improving quality and transitioning towards fully Nigerian owned sustainable services in the Nigeria Military. However, the Cooperative Agreement had further modifications which extended the project to 2018.
HIFASS supported key areas of HIV/AIDS services in the military under the SINMHAR project which were; Basic Health Care and Support (HBHC), Laboratory infrastructure (HLAB), Health System Strengthening (OHSS), ARV drugs (HTXD), Adult Treatment (HTXS), HIV Counselling and Testing (HVCT), and Strategic Information (HVSI). Services provided by HIFASS in the SINMHAR project pertained mainly in Human Resources Management and strengthening which was crosscutting among all programme areas listed above.
To ensure the quality of service delivery provided by HIFASS under the SINMHAR, HIFASS ensured the recruitment of an adequate number of staff required to run the project. However, in order to ensure sustainability of the services provided, a steering committee was set up in November 2017 and mandated to brainstorm approaches to sustainability and make recommendations. A list of 39 staff has been submitted for absorption into Nigerian Ministry of Defence.
Key Project Achievements
- Training of over 300 staff on HIV comprehensive care;
- More than 28646 clients on ART treatment;
- Establishing well-equipped laboratories including two reference laboratories;
- A total of eight hundred and forty eight (848) HIV Exposed Infants and three hundred and sixty four (364) PMTCT were made into the HIT System within the period under review which ended on the 30th September 2018;
- Key indicators buttress the claim that these efforts have been fruitful: 93% of the DBS PCR tests taken have results available in the HIT System, 93% out of mothers were informed of their child’s results and 94% of infants who tested positive were initiated on ART;
- About half a million people have received quality treatment, counseling and testing through this program and 80% of them are civilians who live in communities surrounding the program facilities;
- Transitioning of 69 staff to Henry Jackson Foundation for the advancement of Military Medicine;
- Throughout the life of the project, advocacy visits were also carried out to Government of Nigeria (Nigerian Ministry of Defense) and military hospital Commanders to commit resources to ownership and support sustainability of the Military HIV program
HAF II Grant Implementation in Benue State
Benue State Agency for Control of AIDS (BENSACA) through the World Bank credit awarded HIFASS a grant of ₦5, 941,000 to provide demand creation for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) amongst pregnant women in 35 Benue State communities. These communities are spread across 4 LGAs in the state. The objectives of the project include increased uptake of Antenatal Care (ANC) services, increased number of women who know their HIV status during pregnancy and, eventually, increased facility based deliveries amongst these same women. Project implementation was in accordance with the National Prevention Plan (2010-2015) and approved National MPPI guideline. The target of the HAF 2 project in Benue State was to mobilize 2800 pregnant women (primary beneficiaries) for ANC/PMTCT services in a health facility within 24 months. By the end of the project in July 2015, a total of 4893 pregnant women were referred for ANC/PMTCT services during peer sessions, out of which 3,067 pregnant women received ANC/PMTCT services exceeding the project target by 9.5%.
HAF II Grant Implementation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
The FCT Agency for Control of AIDS (FACA) also through the World Bank credit awarded HIFASS a grant of ₦21, 743,000 to provide demand creation for PMTCT amongst pregnant women in 7 wards within the Federal Capital Territory. The objectives of both projects include increased uptake of Antenatal Care (ANC) services, increased number of women who know their HIV status during pregnancy and, eventually, increased facility based deliveries amongst these same women. Project implementation was in accordance with the National Prevention Plan (2010-2015) and approved National MPPI guideline. By September 2015, 2225 pregnant women have received ANC/PMTCT services in PHCs spread across the project LGAs of the FCT thereby exceeding the project target of 1790 beneficiaries by 24.3%. The projects collaborate with Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and community volunteers to refer clients for primary health care services including PMTCT, malaria prevention, and control. The project was completed in July 2016.
NACA Operational Research (The Models Of Decentralization of Art Services and their Level of Effectiveness in Nigeria), Benue, Delta And Oyo State
Our Work in Malaria Diagnostics
HIFASS in partnership with MOD-HIP/DoD WRP-Nigeria had been involved in the capacity building of malaria Microscopists. HIFASS has, among the trainers on malaria diagnosis in Nigeria, one and the only WHO External Competency Assessment of Malaria Microscopists Trainer/Facilitator in the English speaking West African countries. HIFASS also has WHO level 1 Expert Malaria Microscopist.
HIFASS has involved these staff in:
- Basic Malaria Microscopy Training: 10-day training for would-be malaria microscopist that involves parasite detection (ability to detect the presence or absence of malaria parasites), parasite species identification and parasite