ACE 5 PROJECT

The Accelerating Control of the HIV Epidemic in Nigeria (ACE-5 Project) is a 5-year activity funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and awarded to Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) on May 18th 2022. The project is implemented in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and aims to achieve sub-population control of the HIV epidemic by addressing the barriers limiting access to treatment through high-impact, evidence-based interventions within the focused states. The project consortium comprises FHI360, Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi), and Howard University Global Initiative in Nigeria (HUGIN), with ECEWS as the lead partner. The project supports comprehensive HIV/TB prevention, treatment and care services in 226 health facilities spread across all the Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. This includes HIV case identification and linkage to treatment, adult HIV care and treatment, pediatric/adolescent care and treatment, triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B, TB/HIV service integration, cervical cancer screening for women with HIV, screening for non-communicable diseases, laboratory services, health systems strengthening, and private sector engagement, etc.

ECEWS ACE-5 implementation strategies and interventions are guided by three overarching objectives:
– Increased Resiliency, Responsiveness, and Accountability of the Health System
– Increased uptake and retention of HIV/AIDS/TB services
– Improved Access and Provision of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Services within Primary Health Care Interventions

The project works in partnership with the relevant host governments and community stakeholders to accelerate proven interventions and implement cost-effective innovations, utilizing high-frequency reporting to measure progress and improve implementation, management, and cost efficiency. The project’s monitoring and evaluation system is designed to be responsive to existing and emerging data requirements.