Duration: December 2015 – November 2020

Budget: $21 mln

Implementing Partner: Population Services International

Key Partners: Ministry of Health, Republican and Regional AIDS centers, Family Medicine Centers. 

Activity Locations: Chuy oblast, including Bishkek City, Sokuluk and Issyk Ata rayons; Osh, including Osh City, Kara-suu and Nookat rayons.

The project is designed to reduce new HIV infections and HIV-related deaths in Central Asian countries. It will increase the use of high-quality HIV prevention, testing, treatment, adherence and care services by key populations including People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

MAJOR FOCUS AREAS

The project broadly follows the UNAIDS ambitious 90-90-90 strategy, aiming to ensure 90% of people with HIV are diagnosed, 90% of those are on anti-retroviral treatment (ART), and 90% of those are virally suppressed by 2020.

The project will work with target communities to identify new HIV cases using evidence-based strategies and follow them up to ensuring the key populations (KPs) are fully partaking of HIV services along the HIV prevention, care and treatment cascade.

EXPECTED IMPACT AND RESULTS

• In the first year, 91 people living with HIV (PLHIV) started receiving antiretroviral therapy to improve quality of patient’s life and reduce HIV transmission. Community-based organizations supported by the project also support these people so that they adhere to their life-long treatment. In year two the project expects to cover over 1,700 people living with HIV.
• All people living with HIV reached by the project are screened for tuberculosis and escorted to treatment if necessary.
• The project has been developing, adapting and implementing innovative approaches such as rapid blood-based testing for HIV in high-risk groups like people who inject drugs and partners of PLHIV.
• The project trained five non-government organizations on case-detection and case-management approaches and community-based services for key populations.
• People living with HIV often come from closed social groups such as drug users that are very hard to reach for doctors or government. The project created a network of so called peer navigators, people coming from the same communities, to help PLHIV get treatment and care.
• The project continues to work with health providers and civil society organizations on reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. 120 medical health workers went through special training on these issues.