Before you close your laptop...
Dear ,
What a full and exciting year it has been for the SSLN! Our champion group has grown significantly, we've met in person a number of times, and we've been preparing for many more HIV interchange opportunities in the new year.
In a nutshell (scroll down for more detail ▼)
What's new(s)
- PrEP injectable: Zimbabwe & South Africa made the headlines!
- SSLN Phase II: Who has been onboarded?
- Success case study: Selecting fit-for-purpose costing methods & tools
Recent learning events
- AGYW workshop: Our first pillar workshop in Zimbabwe
- Link & Learns: Hosts include Zimbabwe and Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique
- Webinars: Key Populations Community of Practice as well as SSLN condoms pillar
Add to your to-do list
- Mozambique's Key Populations Technical Support Unit (TSU) newsletter #1
- SSLN virtual tour: South Africa's Key Populations Programmes (14:22 min.)
- UNODC's opioid agonist therapy services operational tool
Appreciation Station
- The Golden Achiever Reward goes to a champion...
- The Dream Team Award goes to a country team...
What's new(s)?
Regulatory Approval for CAB-LA from two SSLN countries
The long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) injectable, Cabotegravir - CAB-LA - has received regulatory approval from both the Zimbabwe Medicines Control Authority (MCAZ) as well as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) since October.
A study showed that this 2-monthly injectable can reduce HIV infections and deaths by more than three times. It will be especially beneficial in reducing infection among key populations and young women.
![[WATCH] Find out what women who have used CAB-LA think of it](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/y/44/CAC/655/214917/csfinal/pexels-gustavo-fring-7447012-1daea645ece5a25.jpg)
"I am excited and proud to know that my own country Zimbabwe has approved the use of CAB-LA. This will contribute to our basket of HIV prevention tools that work for us as girls and women in Zimbabwe,“ commented Ms Nyasha Sithole, DAWA, Zimbabwe.
In-person country champion meetings in 9 countries
With more HIV prevention pillar champions and new countries joining the SSLN, it was time to meet up - in person! The SSLN team is delighted to have been hosted by champions in Ghana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Thank you for your hospitality and engagement during the respective inception, orientation, and PSAT facilitation meetings. We look forward to building on this in 2023!
Three SSLN countries supported to select fit-for-purpose costing methods and tools
With the wide range of costing methods and tools available to estimate costs, it can be challenging to know which method or tool to use given specific information needs.
For this reason, Country Champions and HIV costing team members from Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria were supported by Genesis Analytics' Health Finance & Economics (HFE) team to crystalise their research and information needs, define study objectives, and agree on the appropriate methods, tools and outputs for the studies. Click here to read about the support.
| Your country can also receive this support. Contact your country engagement lead for more information.
Missed our learning events? Here they are again
Champions' AGYW-workshop
We hosted our first in-person workshop for Adolescent Girls & Young Women (AGYW) practitioners. 75 champions and 15 global AGYW stakeholders met in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, at the end of October for a three-day workshop which included site visits to AGYW programmes in Bulawayo.
Thank you to the Zimbabwe SSLN champions for being such great hosts! We look forward to inviting the other pillar groups to workshops in the new year. Photos & presentations ►
Links to our most recent virtual meetings
Condom Programmes Overall Leadership ▼
Measuring the Right Condom Indicators ▼
Quality of Supply & Quality Assurance ▼
Financing & Sustaining Key Population Programmes ▼
Multi-media corner: Key Populations
Mozambique's Technical Support Unit Newsletter | issue #1 | English / Portuguese
South Africa's Key Population programme SSLN virtual tour documentary
UNODC operational tool for establishing & delivering opioid agonist therapy services
Appreciation Station
SSLN is excited to again share our Appreciation Station where we recognise your contributions to the network. Each quarter we will recognise a different Country Champion and Country Pillar Team for their contributions.
The Golden Achiever award for Country Champions is awarded to Dr Khanya Mabuza for demonstrating a deep passion for systemic changes to reverse the HIV trends in Eswatini. His able leadership and support to the Eswatini champions through the SSLN inception journey are commendable.
The Dream Team award for country pillar teams is awarded to Zimbabwe for being active participants in the learning activities and showing that they are willing to share their experiences with other countries.
A final request: Please send your portrait photo + WhatsApp number
To feature you in a newsletter or quote you in a presentation, we want to be able to add a photograph. With in-person meetings, it is easier to reach each other through WhatsApp.
Please reply to this email & attach a photo of yourself + your WhatsApp number (if you want). Thank you in advance!
We wish you a restful festive season with loved ones! We look forward to many more SSLN learning highlights in the new year!
Best wishes,
Kerry Mangold Programme Director, SSLN Genesis Analytics
