VIDEO LIBRARY
City Councillor Interviews
Dr. Edna N Bosire
Isaac Jomo Osman
Leonard Chimbanga
Thokozani Kawazira Phekanj
Uche Selassie Yesaya
District Health & Facility Staff
Chimwemwe Pinto
Ernest Takomana
Dr Gift Kawalazira
Dr Gift Kawalazira
Tamanda Nzima
National-level Government
Chimwemwe Mablekisi
Rose Nyirenda
BPS Partners
Bruce Agins
Dr. Charles Holmes
Edward Moses
Grace Kumwenda
Richard Chilongosi
Simon Ndira
Case Studies
Blantyre Prevention Strategy Case Study: Capacities, Collaboration & Political Leadership
Suzike Likumbo, the Coordinator for Quality Improvement with Blantyre District Health Office, Malawi Ministry of Health, describes the BCT selected four pilot geographies using data from PALMS, the CSO network analysis, public and private service delivery channel mapping exercise, BPS work stream data, as well as characteristics of each location, such as risk level, migratory patterns, urban vs. rural, and ongoing social activities that could increase risk of transmission. Facility Network Model committees were formed in each cluster with multi-sectoral representatives. Each committee developed an action plan for the year specific to their cluster with indicators to track progress.
Blantyre Prevention Strategy Case Study: Using Data for Informed, Coordinated, & Local Responses
Suzike Likumbo, the Coordinator for Quality Improvement with Blantyre District Health Office, Malawi Ministry of Health, describes how access to real-time data through the Blantyre Prevention Strategy allowed her and her fellow health workers to initiate effective HIV prevention interventions. She highlights a specific example of when she noticed a spike in sexually transmitted infections, a leading indicator of HIV infections, and enrollment in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), she and her team took action to address the disparity and avoid a potential surge in HIV cases in the community.
Conferences/Meetings
BPS at the 2023 IAS Science Meeting
As part of the IAS biannual science meeting, the Government of Malawi and CIGH co-hosted a satellite session titled “District-based HIV prevention: Defining the functions of a coherent & sustainable response.” The session in Brisbane, Australia, was co-chaired by Dr. Gift Kawalazira, Director of Health and Social Services, Blantyre District, and Sara M. Allinder, BPS Program Director, CIGH. Speakers included Dr. Rose Nyirenda, Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Malawi Ministry of Health; Patricia Munthali Khomani, BPS Program Officer, Cooper/Smith; and Dr. Charles Holmes, BPS PI and Director, CIGH. The speakers highlighted the innovations achieved through Blantyre Prevention Strategy’s unique approach to building a more effective, district-led health system. The session featured case studies about BPS’s learning in data access and use and in creating linked networks involving community, facility, district, and political leaders through videos featuring Suzike Likumbo, STI Coordinator, Blantyre District, and Grace Kumwenda, formerly of Pakachere IHDC, a local Malawi-based partner.
BPS at the 2022 International AIDS Society Conference
As part of the International AIDS Society’s (IAS AIDS) 2022 conference held in Montreal, Canada, the Government of Malawi and Georgetown University Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH) hosted a satellite session on July 31, 2022. The satellite, titled The Blantyre Prevention Strategy: A New Way of Doing Business in HIV Prevention, was co-chaired by Chimwemwe Mablekisi, Director of Programmes, Malawi National AIDS Commission (NAC), and Sara M. Allinder, BPS Program Director, CIGH. The satellite session featured speakers from the Government of Malawi at district and national levels, BPS expert partners, and BPS Principal Investigator Dr. Charles Holmes, Director, CIGH. During the session, the speakers highlighted the unique BPS business model and learning from two years of implementation, particularly in data access and usage as well as innovative approaches to supporting oral PrEP scale up.
R4P Conference BPS Session 2021
As part of the HIV Research for Prevention conference held virtually, the Government of Malawi and Georgetown University’s Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH) hosted a satellite session on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The session, titled “Optimizing the Delivery of HIV Prevention Services for Maximum Impact and Sustainability: The Blantyre Prevention Strategy,” was co-chaired by Chimwemwe Mablekisi, Director of Programmes for the Malawi National AIDS Commission, and Dr. Charles Holmes, CIGH Director and BPS PI. The session, which highlighted the innovative elements of the Blantyre Prevention Strategy, featured speakers from the Government of Malawi and BPS expert partners.