Title

Are we testing for 2030? Implementing and scaling-up innovative approaches to HIV testing and linkage to prevention and treatment in low- and middle-income countries

Code

MOSA53

Session Type

Non-Commercial Satellite

Venue

Hall 11A

Date Time

Monday 23 July, 17:00 - 19:00

Co-Chairs:

Ndougou Salla Ba, WHO, Burkina Faso
Johannes van Dam, PATH, United States
Alasdair Reid, UNAIDS, Switzerland

Organizer:

WHO, PATH, UNAIDS, UNITAID

In 2016, UNAIDS estimated that 30% of people with HIV were undiagnosed and nearly half of people with HIV were on treatment. Despite the many successes of the HIV response, diagnosis and linkage to care continues to be late and delivery of and linkage to HIV prevention, such as condoms, voluntary male medical circumcision, harm reduction, and pre-exposure prophylaxis are not routine. These gaps are even greater among key populations, men and young people. In this session we present the lessons learned with implementing innovative HIV testing approaches, including lay providers, partner notification, index testing, HIV self-testing, social network-based delivery approaches ( online and offline), and novel counselling and linkage services from low- and middle-income countries. Examples span multiple regions including Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia; as well as at risk and key population groups.

17:00 MOSA5301	Introduction Anna Laura Ross, Unitaid, Switzerland Johannes van Dam, PATH, United States Alasdair Reid, UNAIDS, Switzerland Ndougou Salla Ba, WHO, Burkina Faso

17:05 MOSA5302	Overview of importance and emerging innovations for testing and linkage Cheryl Johnson, World Health Organization, Switzerland	Slides

17:20 MOSA5303	Scaling lay provider, HIV self-testing and index testing among key populations in Viet Nam Kimberly Green, PATH, Vietnam Van Thi Thuy Nguyen, WHO, Vietnam

17:32 MOSA5304	HIV testing and linkage strategies for reaching men and young people in South Africa Thato Chidarikire, National Department of Health, South Africa	Slides

17:44 MOSA5305	Q&A

17:49 MOSA5306	Index testing and partner notification service innovations in complex settings: Lesson from Democratic Republic of Congo Davina Canagasabey, PATH, United States	Slides

18:01 MOSA5307	Testing and linking different key population groups in Ukraine Olga Denisiuk, AIDS Alliance, Ukraine	Slides

18:13 MOSA5308	Q&A

18:18 MOSA5309	Reflections on adapting and implementing innovations for impact Lastone Chitembo, WHO, Zambia Ade Fakoya, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Switzerland Martine Moise, First Lady, Haiti Tung Thanh Doan, Lighthouse Social Enterprise, Vietnam Jane Ng’anga Kenerela Ke, INERELA+, Kenya Jean Bosco Elat Nfetam, MOH, Cameroon Peris Urassa, MOH, United Republic of Tanzania Mary Mugambi, MOH, Kenya

18:43 MOSA5310	Q&A

18:55 MOSA5311	Wrap-up

AUTHOR

James Hargreaves

SUMMARY

This testing discussed innovations in HIV testing. There is much innovation occurring at the moment in trying to reach the first 90. This session discussed experiences implemnting “new” approaches such as self-testing, partner testing and other approaches to testing based on an index case, and testing through outreach platforms.

HIGHLIGHTS

Vietnam reported on positive experiences with self-testing and index testing. In South Africa strategies are tailored to the needs of men and young women. In the DRC, 27% of partners and children tested through index-linked testing were positive., and both the number of tests done and testing yield increased. Yield was highest among tests from an index case rather than other channels, and highest among sexual partners of index cases. In Ukraine assisted self-testing has seen a large increase in number of tests undertaken and cases found. Social workers were key to this distribution effort. Optimised case finding is being trials based on incentivisation of three people from index cases who they think may be at risk of HIV. The panel discussed health identifiers to track patients over time, age of consent issues, legal frameworks that influence who can provide testing, and integrating testing with structural and behavioural interventions.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

These have been an exciting few years for the expansion of HIV testing, and the emergence of new technologies and approaches. Testing has expanded. Increasingly, testing is seen through the lens of case finding with yield, or cost per new case identified and linked to care being the key metrics. In an era of shrinking resources, it will be ever more important to focus efforts. However, testing also offers an important gateway to prevention services.