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INNOVATION to ACHIEVE the SECOND 95 AMIDST COVID-19 in KEY POPULATION in NIGERIA
Topics in Antiviral Medicine ; 30(1 SUPPL):359-360, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1880674
ABSTRACT

Background:

Key Populations (KP) makeup 3.4% of the general population, yet account for ∼32% of new HIV infections in Nigeria (NACA, 2017). With criminalizing laws, and ∼3000 active KPs hotspots in Lagos state alone, it is increasingly challenging for civil society organizations to reach these groups with the much needed HIV services. With the COVID-19 outbreak in the South-West region of Nigeria, Lagos state in early March, 2020 and attendant lockdown leading to restriction in movement, it became even more challenging to reach KP members with a complement of comprehensive HIV services. We describe our experience implementing innovatively evidence and community-based strategies to scale active HIV case-finding using a COVID-19 guided protocol during the 6-week lockdown in the state.

Methods:

We set up 22 Community ART (cART) teams split into an 8-person KP peer-led sub team comprising (community health worker, pharmacist, laboratory technician, four counselor testers, and a community mobilizer) that conducted HIV Testing Services (HTS) in 78 communities across 7 districts using the "moonlight testing" (nightly testing) approach. The teams were equipped with a line-list of index clients for elicitation of sexual and needle-sharing partners. Community engagement of gate keepers of pre-mapped KP communities was innovatively conducted, to seek approval, grant access and provide security during testing of elicited partners. Following an orientation on COVID-19 protocols for clients assessing services, index partners who accepted HTS were provided HIV prevention information, condom messaging, demonstration and distribution;those who tested positive were retested and provided with ART immediately.

Results:

Prior to the lockdown (February-March 2020), 8,831 clients were offered HIV testing services with 1,396 (positivity yield of 16%). Following the lockdown period which lasted for 6 weeks (March-May, 2020), HIV testing among key population increased by 38% (12, 159) with a 28% increase (1, 781) in HIV positives and 15% positivity yield.

Conclusion:

Despite the pre-existing challenges with KP access to comprehensive differentiated services worsened by current COVID-19 realities, peer-led cART showed significant promise in accelerating KP HIV case finding and sustaining community ART delivery.
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Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Topics in Antiviral Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Topics in Antiviral Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article