EpiC Quarterly Report (January to March 2020)

Despite challenges including a national stock out of HIV rapid test kits and the impact of COVID-19, partners Equals and Community Education, Empowerment & Development (CEED) were able to use both in-person and online outreach to connect MSM with testing and link HIV-positive persons to treatment. A total of 188 MSM were reached with HIV prevention interventions, representing 80% of the annual target of 514. Of the 188 MSM reached, 68 were contacted via online outreach, with 33 tested for HIV and receiving their results, representing a testing uptake of 48.5% via online outreach. A total of 74 MSM were tested for HIV and received their results, representing a cumulative achievement of 53% of the annual target and a cumulative testing uptake of 45%. One new HIV case was identified among MSM, representing a case-finding rate of 3.2%. The program continued to support activities to reduce stigma and discrimination by facilitating quarterly workshops to sensitize and educate healthcare and supportive services providers. The use of virtual tools and mechanisms was further explored for use by implementing partners to help continue services within current challenges. The program also continued to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MHW) to ensure that HIV services were adapted to client needs and address current contextual constraints. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the program, with all outreach workers transitioning to online reach/engagement by the end of March. Both CEED and Equals sites were closed by mid-March, but clients were still able to access PrEP and ARV refills administered by site physician, Dr. Rambarram. The program also supported continued collaboration with the MHW in the implementation of the 'shared care model', with Equals functioning as a treatment provision site for ART. The program also continued to develop and implement KP-specific online communication campaigns for social media, with COVID-19-specific messages developed and disseminated online and via social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram. EpiC continued to share COVID-19 and HIV messaging guidance to partners to mitigate the impact of the disease. A stigma and discrimination workshop was also delivered in partnership with the Barbados Association of Social Workers, with the overall purpose of sensitizing and educating healthcare and supportive services providers on issues of stigma and discrimination and how it affects key populations in accessing services. The Government of Barbados issued national guidance on practicing social distancing and a national curfew was introduced beginning March 28, 2020, to address COVID-19. In-person coordination and monitoring of the grantees transitioned to online operations beginning on March 28. A FHI 360 COVID-19 online tracker was introduced on March 16 and completed weekly.