Socios En Salud implements strategies focused on screening, diagnosis, treatment and accompaniment of people living with HIV that connect sexual health services with the population.
Currently, one of the biggest public health problems around the world is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a virus that damages the immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 26 million people have been reported to have died from HIV-related illnesses around the world and in 2021 it was estimated that 98,000 people were living with HIV in Peru. Over the past two years, HIV-related services have been affected by the pandemic, compromising the availability of treatment and disrupting prevention and diagnostic activities for screening.
HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis and treatment
Many people are living with HIV/AIDS and have no symptoms; however, because they are not identified in a timely manner, their defenses are weakened and they are exposed to various opportunistic infections or other complications. In addition, viral load levels increase and they continue to transmit the disease. Therefore, the initiation of timely and appropriate treatment is important.
Socios En Salud through its HIV and STI Program seeks to strengthen comprehensive care: clinical, psychological and social in the detection and care of sexually transmitted infections from screening to initiation and continuity of treatment (until treatment adherence is achieved), focusing on active community outreach to people living with HIV in key populations (men who have sex with men, transgender women and sex workers), migrants and adolescents.
Strategies to Eliminate HIV/AIDS
Active search strategy for people living with HIV
In order to decrease the HIV diagnosis gap, Socios En Salud in coordination with the Strategy for the Prevention and Control of STIs, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis of the Dirección de Redes Integradas de Salud Lima Norte, of the Ministry of Health implements a system of active search for HIV in people of the key population, including migrant population through the use of urban mobile brigades.
The urban mobile brigades of Socios en Salud are teams made up of an obstetrician and two peer educators who travel in vehicles equipped for HIV screening, visiting points close to places where key populations gather for free fourth-generation rapid HIV tests. Those with positive results are linked to the CERITSS of preference of the patient for diagnostic confirmation and initiation of timely antiretroviral treatment.
These brigades are being carried out in North Lima in the districts of Comas, Carabayllo, Ancon, Puente Piedra, Independencia, Los Olivos, San Martin de Porres and Rimac. It is important to remember that, nationally, Lima Norte reports 20% of HIV infection cases.
HIV and STI program achievements
From Socios En Salud we are committed to strengthening access to diagnosis, care and linkage to HIV and STI services to guarantee the right to health in key populations (men who have sex with men, transgender women and sex workers), migrants and adolescents living with HIV.
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