Advancing HIV & AIDS Epidemic Control (AHEC) Activity Quarterly Report 3rd Quarter – April 1 to June 30, 2021

The program aims to increase prevention, care, treatment, and retention services for at-risk men, women, children, and key populations in South Sudan. The geographic coverage of the program includes Juba, Nimule, Yambio, Wau, Bor, Rumbek, and Tambura. The program's objective is to increase HIV testing services, particularly among key populations, and to improve linkage to care and treatment services. In the third quarter of 2021, the program continued to provide HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in 14 supported facilities in Tambura and Juba counties. A total of 14,799 people were tested and counseled for HIV, with 484 testing HIV positive (3.3% positivity yield). This represents a 16% decrease in case identification from the previous quarter. The program also implemented index testing, which involves testing the sexual partners and biological children of individuals who test HIV positive. During the quarter, 578 index clients were offered index testing, with an acceptance rate of 93%. A total of 1042 contacts were elicited, with 50% (518) of them being tested through index testing. The overall yield of index testing was 14.7%, contributing to 15.7% of the total HIV positive cases identified. The program also reported significant progress in PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission) services. A total of 6487 pregnant mothers attended antenatal care for the first time, with 99% of them being tested for HIV. The PMTCT coverage was 99%, representing 118% of the annual target. A total of 110 new HIV positive mothers were identified and 109 were initiated on ART. TB (Tuberculosis) clients living with HIV were also identified through scaling up HIV testing at TB sites. A total of 1,020 new and relapsed TB cases were identified, with 97% of them having documented HIV status. Of the total tested, 68 were newly diagnosed HIV positive, with a yield of 7.1%. All the HIV positive TB clients were initiated on ART. The program also reported progress in ART (Antiretroviral Treatment) services. A total of 650 adults and children were newly initiated on ART, with a cumulative performance of 40% towards the annual target. The proxy initiation rate was 134%, and the cohort-based initiation rate was 99%. Clients not initiated on ART immediately were followed up with support of community outreach volunteers and peer navigators for complete referral and linkage to care and treatment. The program's overall performance in the third quarter of 2021 was satisfactory, with significant progress reported in HIV testing services, PMTCT services, and ART services. The program will continue to optimize key HIV testing approaches, including index testing, to increase HIV positive case identification.