In effort to end HIV by 2030, Thailand is intensifying its focus on enhancing HIV data monitoring, evaluation and utilization across its diverse provinces.
To support these initiatives, the UCSF Informatics Hub has been collaborating with the CDC Division of HIV and TB for Thailand and Laos, as well as Thailand’s Division of AIDS and STI (DAS). Two workshops were conducted in Bangkok over the past year, each hosting 65 participants representing from the Department of Disease Control, the Department of Epidemiology, various government agencies, community-based organizations (CBOs) and USAID.
The first workshop, held in November 2023, focused on developing and refining standardized indicators for HIV program monitoring and related co-morbidities. Participants consolidated and prioritized 140 unique HIV indicators from 43 datasets, laying the foundation for streamlined data-sharing workflows, data marts and open datasets.
In July 2024, a second workshop shifted focus to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks and data utilization. With the goal to draft provincial M&E plans, participants engaged in an in-depth review of existing M&E frameworks, specifically applying HIV and HIV-related co-morbidity data. The UCSF team shared challenges and best practices for implementing effective M&E systems, including data quality assessments, localized data reviews and developing logic models.
Select participants drafted tailored M&E plans for their respective provinces, outlining specific goals, timelines, roles and resources necessary for strengthening M&E and enhancing data use at the local level.
Survey feedback revealed that participants felt they gained valuable skills and knowledge, had ample opportunities to practice and developed a shared understanding of M&E processes both centrally and regionally.
Through these initiatives, Thailand is making significant strides in advancing its HIV program, fostering more effective monitoring, evaluation and data-sharing practices, and strengthening these skills in the provinces.
