2nd Quarter Report FY 2018: Strengthening HIV/AIDS Services for Key Populations in PNG

Reaching KPs with critical HIV prevention services in PNG is hampered by criminalization of sex work, high stigma and discrimination, and lack of designated places (such as brothels and special night clubs) for KPs. Per the recent Integrated Bio-Behavioral Survey (IBBS) conducted in Port Moresby, NCD in 2017, HIV prevalence among FSW and MSM/TG is 14.9% and 8.5%, respectively. The Project, "Strengthening HIV/AIDS Services for key populations in PNG", aims to reduce the incidence of HIV among KPs in PNG and mitigate its impact on KPs, their sexual partners, and their families. The project is implemented by FHI 360 with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Philippines Mission. The FY 2018 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) focuses on strengthening technical assistance (TA) to the National District Health Services (NCDHS) and HIV clinics in NCD, working with stakeholders to sustain essential components of the program, documenting and disseminating lessons learned from implementing various strategies and approaches, and closing out sub-awards with implementing partners. During the second quarter of FY 2018, a total of 1,180 KPs (833 FSW; 308 MSM & 39 TG) were reached with preventive interventions. In addition, 773 other high-risk individuals (415 men, including 238 men in transactional sex, and 358 females) were also reached with prevention services. A total of 546 individuals received STI services, while 6,709 individuals (including 831 KPs) received HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) with an overall program HIV positivity rate of 4.3%. A total of 288 people living with HIV (PLHIV) were identified during the quarter, 337 PLHIV were registered into care, and 321 were newly initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 3,726 were active on treatment at the end of March, 2018. The Project continued to conduct outreach services among KPs, their partners, and families to increase demand for services related to HIV and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), and link these populations to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services at health facilities. Index client partner testing (ICPT) was introduced as part of efforts to increase HIV testing yield, while activities to strengthen 'test and treat', viral load (VL) services, intensified TB case finding (TB-ICF), and Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) were given priority. The FY 2018 cumulative results for most of the key PEPFAR Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) indicators reached and surpassed the fifty percent mark expected at the end of the reporting period. FHI 360 conducted due diligence checks on implementing partners, amended their contracts to include relevance clauses regarding the policy, and sensitized program staff on the needs to routine compliance checks as part of onsite mentoring activities. Clay Epperson, the Deputy Mission Director, USAID Philippines Mission, visited the project during the quarter. Significant progress was made with the technical documentation of project results as three abstracts for submission at the 2018 International AIDS Conference were written, six concept notes for academic papers on key intervention were developed, and documentation of lessons learned in the implementation of KP friendliness assessment and mobile voluntary counselling and testing (mVCT) were completed. The management of Foursquare Church (FSC) reserved three full-time clinical positions under its current funding from Christian Health Services (CHS) to absorb the ART prescriber and two case managers attached to Kaugere Clinic at the end of the project. A total of 199 survivors of GBV (including 65 KPs) received post-GBV care, representing 98% of GBV survivors seen during the reporting period. Three TA clinics (Heduru, Tokarara, and 9 Mile) reported GBV data for the first time, indicating a significant improvement in GBV reporting and response.