Summary

Program goals

Partnership,Capacity Building,Data Quality,Sustainability

TIP improves health outcomes for vulnerable populations by developing long term relationships with our partners. We work with both providers and recipients of health care to identify barriers and develop innovative solutions for quality care while building cross-sector partnerships to support long term sustainability. We utilize a Continuous Quality Improvement model to demonstrate the benefits of accurate, consistent data for training, staff engagement, quality patient care, and program improvements. TIP strives to transfer all programming to local ownership as one strategy for long term sustainability.

Key program components

Nutrition for HIV-Exposed Infants (NHI) Program:

TIP provides fortified sosoma for HIV-exposed infants and their mothers while strengthening health center capacity to provide quality clinical care and meet expectations of PMTCT and malnutrition protocols given by the Ministry of Health.

Farming Cooperatives:

TIP has worked together with associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, and workers from 7 health centers to establish a farming cooperative to improve food security through farming and income generation. In exchange for the start up costs and ongoing technical support, farmers donate a portion of soya and maize crops to their health centers. Eventually, the health centers will produce their own fortified sosoma to sustain the NHI Program.

Community-Based Nutrition Program (CBNP):

TIP hopes to sustain short term gains from NHI by strengthening the CBNP for all children under 5 yrs old. TIP conducted a needs assessment with local community health workers. They identified that villages need covered shelters for CHW activities and TIP has agreed to construct 5 per year over the next 5 years. TIP also works with Ruli District Hospital, health centers and CHWs to improve health care workers ability to provide key health information to the communities they serve.

Economic Development:

Ihangane-Ruli Artisan Cooperative invites HIV+ mothers from NHI to join their cooperative. They train the women in weaving card-making,and provide them with a market for their wares. TIP encourages long term independence by providing business and skills training, as well as access to local, regional and international markets.

Sustainable Hospital Partnerships:

TIP partners with the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan to improve cost-effectiveness, quality, and sustainability of the Ruli District Hospital health care delivery system.