Closing the delivery gap.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the authors' experience operationalizing the care delivery value chain (CDVC) as a management and continuous quality improvement (QI) approach to strengthen HIV/AIDS services provided in Northern Togo through addressing gaps across a care continuum. Design/methodology/approach The authors led a series of discussions to develop a CDVC specific to existing HIV/AIDS services in Northern Togo. Using the CDVC framework, 28 specific gaps in service delivery were identified and integrated into a strategic QI plan.

Additional health and development activities for community-directed distributors of ivermectin: threat or opportunity for onchocerciasis control?

We studied the involvement of community-directed distributors (CDDs) of ivermectin for onchocerciasis control in other health and development activities in Nigeria, Togo and Cameroon. Most CDDs (82%) were involved in additional activities, especially EPI, water and sanitation and community development projects. These activities did not take up much time and were not considered an important burden.