Title

Where are all the men: Ensuring access to HIV testing and treatment services

Code

TUSA02

Session Type

Non-Commercial Satellite

Venue

Hall 11A

Date Time

Tuesday 24 July, 07:00 - 08:30

Chair:

Mohamed Osman, Elton John AIDS Foundation, United Kingdom

Organizer:

United States Government/ President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Men younger than 35 years represent an epidemiologically significant subset of the population that is not accruing the full clinical and public health benefits of HIV testing and treatment. This, in turn, is fueling the HIV epidemic among adolescent girls and young women. This satellite will feature opening remarks by Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, US Global AIDS Coordinator & US Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, and solutions from PEPFAR implementing partners for improving and optimizing men’s access to HIV testing, treatment, and retention services. It will assemble representatives from governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, foundations, and implementing partners to discuss the importance of coordinated, collective action to improve HIV-related outcomes for men. The session will highlight the unique role of the private sector in data analytics, behavioral analysis, and branded campaigns to build the demand for HIV testing and treatment services among men.

07:00	The challenge of finding and reaching men through our existing PHIA, MER, ACS, and Population Council data – and the importance of focusing on this target population given its role in fueling the epidemic among AGYW Ambassador Deborah Birx, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, United States

07:20	PSI - Frank Dialogues

07:23	Understanding the Ethnography of Men: A Private Sector Approach Sunny Sharma, Ipsos Healthcare, United Kingdom

07:33	Index testing/partner notification services in reaching men Kalasa Mwanda, HSI Discover Zambia, Zambia

07:43	Breaking Barriers to uptake of testing among men Karin Hatzold, Population Services International, United States

07:53	Community-based congregate testing Alicia Jaramillo, Jhpiego Mozambique, Mozambique

08:03	Linkage Facilitators/Expert Clients/Escorts Makhosazana Dlamini, PSI, Swaziland Khanya Shabangu, PSI Eswatini, Swaziland

08:13	Facility Based Changes Thabiso Alphonce Lekhotsa, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Lesotho

08:23	Community dispensing or Community Adherence and Retention Groups: “Improving Retention in HIV care among Men through Community ART Refill Groups (CARGs): Experiences from Three Districts in Zimbabwe.” Eula Mothibi, Kheth’Impilo, South Africa

08:33 TUSA0201	Discussion Ambassador Deborah Birx, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, United States Sunny Sharma, Ipsos Healthcare, United Kingdom Kalasa Mwanda, HSI Discover Zambia, Zambia Karin Hatzold, Population Services International, United States Alicia Jaramillo, Jhpiego Mozambique, Mozambique Mphikelele Dlamini, Pact, Swaziland Khanya Shabangu, PSI Eswatini, Swaziland Thabiso Alphonce Lekhotsa, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Lesotho, Lesotho Eula Mothibi, Kheth’Impilo, South Africa

AUTHOR

Robert Newells

SUMMARY

Men are generally less aware of their HIV status than women. Men who are unaware of their status are not in treatment, which is fueling the epidemic among young women and girls. Session highlighted programs in several African countries designed to improve HIV testing, linkage and retention for men.

HIGHLIGHTS

Session Chair, Mohamed Osman started the session by declaring that “We can not end the epidemic without engaging men.” In her opening remarks, Ambassador Deborah Birx shared that “more than ½ of men under age 35 do not know their status and are not on treatment. This,” she said, “is fueling the epidemic in the 15 to 24 year old women.” Some common barriers to HIV testing and treatment were reviewed, and methods used to overcome those barriers were shared. Successful programs included HIV self testing, partner notification services, Community ART Refill Groups (CARGs), and Community Linkage programs. Multiple interventions included alternative clinic hours, services tailored for and provided by men, and increased outreach to meet men where they congregate.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

There is a need to improve and optimize access to HIV testing, treatment, and retention services for men under 35 years old. The concept of client-centered care needs to be translated into real programs to improve testing, linkage, and retention in care for men. HIV testing and treatment services should meet men where they naturally congregate (work, study, or socializing sites) or be provided in male-centered spaces within existing clinic facilities. This session focused on programs in several African countries, but the concepts are transferable to other cultural contexts.