Pioneering Community-Led HIV Testing: A Significant Step in HIV Prevention

The Cape Town Health Department is leading the way in innovative community-led strategies for HIV testing and prevention, including self-testing, PrEP, and PEP. These efforts have reached previously untested populations and have resulted in a significant number of positive outcomes. The Health Department plans to distribute HIV SS test kits in 2024 to broaden its reach. These cutting-edge strategies aim to reduce stigma and discrimination, increase treatment accessibility, and tackle the social determinants of health. The city’s collaborative and comprehensive approach empowers its community to fight against HIV.

Pioneering Community-Led HIV Testing: A Significant Step in HIV Prevention

Learn how the Cape Town Health Department is implementing innovative community-led strategies for HIV testing and prevention, including self-testing, PrEP, and PEP, and how these efforts are reaching previously untested populations. The department’s comprehensive approach addresses social determinants of health and reduces stigma and discrimination. In 2022-2023, approximately 48,000 individuals availed of assisted HIV SS, and 825 tests resulted in positive outcomes. The Health Department plans to distribute HIV SS test kits in 2024 to further broaden its reach.

Pioneering HIV Prevention Methods

In this age that values community empowerment, the city’s Health Department’s initiatives are in line with the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day – ‘Communities take the lead.’ This sentiment highlights the progress made in HIV testing and prevention in the past two years, with the implementation of self-testing, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

The city’s Health Department stands at the forefront in the implementation of new HIV and TB guidelines put forth by the National Department of Health. The department has expanded its HIV program to include preventive steps like PrEP and PEP. Furthermore, it has innovatively used HIV self-screening (HIV SS) and Index Case Testing (ICT) to reach previously untested populations.

The primary goal of these cutting-edge strategies is to increase HIV testing among traditionally under-tested populations, such as men, adolescent girls, and young women. There’s also a concerted effort to boost couple testing among expectant and breastfeeding mothers and to offer options for repeat HIV testing in high-risk communities.

HIV Testing Results and Future Plans

From April 2022 to October 2023, approximately 48,000 individuals at the city’s facilities availed of assisted HIV SS. Out of these, a significant 825 tests resulted in positive outcomes, marking a small but crucial stride towards comprehensive HIV prevention and management efforts. The Health Department plans to broaden its reach by distributing HIV SS test kits in 2024.

Councillor Patricia van der Ross, the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, underscores the significance of these programs. She highlights their role in reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing treatment accessibility, and offering choices to those at risk. According to her, these programs inspire individuals to determine their HIV status and help HIV-negative people maintain their status.

Since the initiation of PrEP at the city’s health facilities two years ago, over 12,000 individuals have started the treatment at 67 service-providing centres. PrEP, unlike many HIV treatments, does not require lifelong commitment. Clients can safely discontinue PrEP when they no longer face significant HIV risk or if they choose to do so. The city also offers Post Exposure Prophylaxis at its facilities to clients who seek help within 72 hours of potential HIV exposure.

The City’s Collaborative Efforts and Comprehensive Approach

In line with this year’s theme, the city is collaborating with various stakeholders to organize community events in observance of World AIDS Day. The main event is scheduled for Area North, with facility staff reaching out to the residents of the Covid informal settlement in Bloekombos.

The city promotes a holistic approach to addressing HIV, acknowledging that addressing the biomedical and behavioural aspects of HIV is not enough. To truly overcome these pandemics, it’s important to tackle the social determinants of health, which play a significant role in initiating and managing treatment. Initiatives are in progress to address these social determinants, creating an inclusive environment that actively fights the stigma and discrimination experienced by those living with and affected by HIV and TB.

Outreach Activities and HIV/AIDS Awareness

As part of the city’s outreach, HIV/AIDS awareness activities will be conducted in city clinics. HIV self-screening tests will be readily accessible, along with information on PEP and PrEP. Through these initiatives, the city continues to empower its community and spearhead the fight against HIV with a robust, community-focused approach.

1. What are the innovative community-led strategies for HIV testing and prevention implemented by the Cape Town Health Department?

The Cape Town Health Department has implemented various innovative community-led strategies for HIV testing and prevention, such as self-testing, PrEP, and PEP. It has also used HIV self-screening (HIV SS) and Index Case Testing (ICT) to reach previously untested populations.

2. What populations are the cutting-edge strategies aimed at?

The primary goal of these cutting-edge strategies is to increase HIV testing among traditionally under-tested populations, such as men, adolescent girls, and young women. There’s also a concerted effort to boost couple testing among expectant and breastfeeding mothers and to offer options for repeat HIV testing in high-risk communities.

3. How many individuals availed of assisted HIV SS from April 2022 to October 2023, and how many tests resulted in positive outcomes?

Approximately 48,000 individuals at the city’s facilities availed of assisted HIV SS from April 2022 to October 2023. Out of these, 825 tests resulted in positive outcomes.

4. What are the plans of the Cape Town Health Department to broaden its reach in HIV testing and prevention?

The Health Department plans to distribute HIV SS test kits in 2024 to further broaden its reach.

5. How many individuals have started PrEP treatment at 67 service-providing centres in Cape Town since its initiation two years ago?

Over 12,000 individuals have started PrEP treatment at 67 service-providing centres in Cape Town since its initiation two years ago.

6. What is the city’s approach in addressing HIV and TB, aside from the biomedical and behavioural aspects?

The city promotes a holistic approach to addressing HIV, acknowledging that addressing the biomedical and behavioural aspects of HIV is not enough. It’s important to tackle the social determinants of health, which play a significant role in initiating and managing treatment. Initiatives are in progress to address these social determinants, creating an inclusive environment that actively fights the stigma and discrimination experienced by those living with and affected by HIV and TB.