Share
Title
Code
Session Type
Track
Channel
Date Time
Local Date Time
Co-Chairs:
Organizer:

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has shifted the paradigm for HIV testing, the first step in the care continuum. The Unitaid-funded HIV Self-Testing Africa (STAR) Initiative and the Atlas project implemented in West-Africa, have demonstrated a critical role for HIVST in reaching populations poorly served by traditional testing modalities, including men, adolescents and key populations. During COVID-19, HIV testing and treatment services have been affected globally with substantial declines in HIV diagnoses and ART initiations. HIV self-testing has been highlighted as critical tool that could address growing gaps. We will be demonstrating how STAR and Atlas have identified new entry points for HIVST to increase access to health care, how HIVST has been leveraged to maintain HIV testing services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and how digital and mhealth solutions were designed to increase HIV self-testing access, support effective use and facilitate follow-up and linkage to care and prevention services. We will also be discussing the HIV Self-testing road map and the different steps towards creating an enabling environment for scale and long-term sustainability and how this road map could be applied for other self-diagnostics and self-care options. / L'autodépistage du VIH (ADVIH) a modifié le paradigme du dépistage du VIH, la première étape du continuum de soins. Financés par Unitaid, l'initiative HIV Self-Testing Africa (STAR) et le projet ATLAS, mis en œuvre en Afrique de l'Ouest, ont démontré le rôle essentiel de l’ADVIH pour atteindre les populations mal desservies par les modalités de dépistage traditionnelles, notamment les hommes, les adolescents et les populations clés. Rejoignez-nous lors de notre session satellite, organisée dans le cadre de la conférence IAS 2021, pour constater comment l’ADVIH peut améliorer l'accès aux soins de santé et peut être employé pour assurer les services de dépistage du VIH dans le contexte de la pandémie du COVID-19.

7 min
Launch of BMJ Special Issue: Innovating with HIV self-testing in a changing epidemic: Results from the STAR (Self-Testing AfRica) Initiative
Rachel BAGGALEY, Switzerland
10 min
From introduction to scale up: Building sustainable systems and markets for HIV Self-Testing
Karin HATZOLD, Population Services International Zimbabwe, South Africa
10 min
From KP to beyond: using HIVST to increasingly reach vulnerable groups in West-Africa
Joseph LARMARANGE, IRD, France
10 min
ART Initiations following community- based distribution of HIV Self-tests: Meta-analysis STAR Initiative Data (Melissa Neuman/LSHTM)
Melissa NEUMAN, LSHTM, United Kingdom
10 min
Engaging the private sector and virtual platforms to increase access to and effective use of HIVST and linkages to prevention and treatment during COVID-19 and beyond
Kim GREEN, PATH, United States
5 min
Introductions of Panellists
Janet GINNARD, Unitaid, Switzerland
7 min
HIVST integration with national systems Mozambique
Guita AMANE, Ministriy of Health, Mozambique
7 min
Investments in HIVST in West-Africa
Eboi EHUI, France
7 min
Considerations for HIVST in the changing environment
Cheryl JOHNSON, WHO, United States
7 min
Lessons learned from HIVST and how they can be applied to other diagnostics and self-care options
Elizabeth CORBETT, Malawi-Liverpool-Welcome Clinical Research Programme / LSHTM, Malawi
3 min
Closing Remarks
Rachel BAGGALEY, Switzerland