PANCAP ADVOCATES FOR TREATMENT CONTINUITY FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Friday, 24 April 2020 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat):
The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the
mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s
response to the HIV epidemic, urges partners and
stakeholders to ensure the continuity of treatment, care and support services
for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) during the COVID-19 Pandemic.  

According to Dr Rosmond Adams, Director, PANCAP, the
Pandemic threatens to undo the gains made in the last ten years of the Region’s
HIV response. He further noted that any disruption to care and treatment could
pose significant threats and create additional burdens for National HIV and AIDS
Programmes and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that work with PLHIV and key
population groups.

Measures to combat COVID-19 such as quarantines,
curfews and social distancing can reduce the number of working hours and
disrupt services for programmes responding to HIV and AIDS.  National programmes and CSOs are urged to adopt
measures to ensure the continuity of care and treatment and support for viral
suppression among PLHIV and to help those who are at risk of HIV acquisition to
remain HIV negative.

The PANCAP Director noted that appropriate precautions
and mitigation strategies must be developed and implemented across all public
health sectors to prevent potentially devastating outcomes. He recommended that
the following measures should be explored and adopted where possible: 

• Promote the use of social media channels or boost
  existing platforms to disseminate HIV programme messages, including those
  related to COVID-19

• Ensure uninterrupted supply of commodities such as
  condoms and lubricants at community distribution points, including the
  provision of multimonth dispensing to allow for less frequent pickups where
  stock allows and,

• Rapidly scale up multimonth dispensing (MMD) of Antiretrovirals (ART)
  and other medications for clients for 3-6 months if stocks allow.

In addition, Dr Adams noted that we must keep a close
watch on Gender-Based Violence and violence against vulnerable populations as the
pandemic can lead to increases in violence within relationships; this situation
is likely to be exacerbated by forced physical distancing, shelter-in-place
measures and by economic distress caused by job losses that will harm the most
vulnerable first.

Dr Adams also noted that we must ensure that
CSOs are involved in providing the support required by PLHIV in accessing
health services during the Pandemic. He commended the CSOs working in HIV and AIDS
that have also joined the COVID-19 response and are working alongside National
Authorities to scale up the quick and targeted response.     

PANCAP also welcomes the assertion
by the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that “there
is currently no direct evidence that people with HIV are at higher risk of
COVID-19” and urges that all information shared about and with PLHIV should be
based on empirical data.     

PANCAP has commenced a multi-layered approach
to the COVID-19 response.  This approach
consists of a series of webinars aimed at building the capacity of National
AIDS Programme Managers, CSOs, clinicians, doctors, youth leaders and other
stakeholders in responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  PANCAP also initiated a public education programme to provide critical information to
partners and stakeholders on COVID-19 guidance. It includes an interactive
dashboard with data on the Caribbean and COVID-19 available on the PANCAP
website, animated videos on COVID-19 prevention, digital posters on
handwashing, advice on wearing masks and other essential information on
combating COVID-19.  Materials can be
accessed via the PANCAP website and social media platforms.   

“PANCAP will continue to provide the support to
National Programmes, CSOs and all stakeholders in the HIV response with
initiatives that are community-led
and based on human rights,”
underscored Dr Adams. “It is critical that as we respond to COVID-19, we never
lose sight of PANCAP’s vision of an AIDS-free
Caribean”.     

-  ENDS -

Contact:


Timothy
Austin

Senior Project Officer, Communications

PANCAP Coordinating Unit

CARICOM Secretariat

Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana

Email:      taustin.consultant@caricom.org

Tel: (592) 222-0001-06, Ext. 3409  | Visit www.PANCAP.org

Helpful
links:

PEPFAR Technical Guidance in the Context of
COVID-19 Pandemic

https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/pepfar-technical-guidance-in-context-of-covid-19-pandemic/

Rights in the time of COVID-19

https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/rights-in-the-time-of-covid-19/

What is PANCAP?

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of
governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and
organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor
partners which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a
structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV
epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic
Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase
impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

Editor’s
Notes

What are the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS
(UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets?

• By
  2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
• By
  2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive
  sustained antiretroviral therapy.
• By
  2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral
  suppression.