The Journal of Infectious Diseases FOREWORD

Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Meeting Healthcare Challenges in Africa: A Perspective From the Public Sector Shannon L. Hader Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) align public and private needs around mutual goals to move vital projects forward. When PPPs work to strengthen the critical link in the healthcare system, such as laboratory networks, as demonstrated in this supplement by authors from the International Laboratory Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in-country officials from the respective CDC and Ministries of Health, implementing partners, and Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD), they significantly change the landscape of healthcare and patient outcomes. The laboratory networks in African countries supported by a PPP between BD and US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief are achieving a positive transformation. Over the years, the PPP has demonstrated significant contributions in developing a more competent laboratory workforce, reinforced laboratory systems, and improved treatment efficiencies by significantly reducing turnaround time to provide accurate laboratory results to patients afflicted by deadly diseases, such as multidrug resistant tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This PPP has not just improved efficiencies in the countries where they exist, it has also provided a successful model for other low-income countries to consider.

Correspondence: S. L. Hader, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA ([email protected]). The Journal of Infectious Diseases® 2016;213(S2):S34 © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail [email protected]. DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv575

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JID 2016:213 (Suppl 2)



FOREWORD

The effort needed to meet the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment goals to help end the AIDS epidemic by 2020 is tremendous, and neither governments nor the private sector can do it alone. These goals, which state that, by 2020, all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression, are being significantly advanced as a result of this collaboration. We encourage more entities—public, private, health ministries, and nongovernmental organizations— to consider PPPs as an opportunity to efficiently and synergistically meet the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and of their caregivers. Notes Disclaimer. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential conflict of interest. Author certifies no potential conflicts of interest. The author has submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Meeting Healthcare Challenges in Africa: A Perspective From the Public Sector.

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