EpiC Semi-Annual Report FY21 Q1-Q2: October 2020 to March 2021

Key activities include community-based outreach using the enhanced peer mobilizer (EPM) model, HIV self-testing (HIVST), index testing services (ITS), and referral to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV treatment services. The project also provides technical support to the Centre for HIV/AIDS and STIs (CHAS)/Global Fund (GF) program. In January 2021, the project resumed implementation of key activities in SVK and CPS provinces, which were suspended due to delays in obtaining the memorandum of understanding (MoU). The project finalized the development of national PrEP guidelines and launched PrEP services in VTC, resulting from a strong collaboration with and implication of different key stakeholders in Laos. The MoU between the Lao government and EpiC was approved on January 12, 2021, for a three-year period. The EpiC Laos team faced challenges in monitoring and evaluating (M&E) treatment and viral load (VL) suppression indicators due to the transition of the HIV Cascade Cohort Monitoring (HIVCAM) system to the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2). Treatment and viral load data used for the M&E indicators were shared by CHAS only after mid-May 2021. However, due to the recent application of the lockdown in Laos to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, the EpiC Laos team has not finalized the verification and validation of treatment and VL indicators. The project has made progress in providing a comprehensive package of prevention services to 2,472 MSM and TG. Among them, 2,057 individuals were reached through the EPM model, 233 through ITS, and 182 were walk-in clients who received prevention services at health facilities. Out of the total MSM and TG reached during this reporting period, 1,468 (59%) were reached by the project in VTC, 516 (21%) in SVK province, and 488 (20%) in CPS province. By the end of the first semester, program achievement for prevention accounted for 68% of the annual target for VTC, 82% of the annual target for SVK province, and 92% for the annual target for CPS province. PrEP services for MSM and TG were launched in January 2021 only in Setthathirath hospital in VTC, explaining the performance of 25% for PrEP_NEW and PrEP_CURR at the end of the first semester. It is expected that during this fiscal year, PrEP services will be expanded to two other hospitals in VTC (Mittaphab hospital in Q3 and Mahosot hospital in Q4) while the expansion of these services to SVK and CPS provinces is planned for FY22. The PrEP cascade highlights two critical leaks that deserve the full attention of the EpiC Laos project and partners for quality and monitoring improvement: the percentage of individuals tested negative and screened for PrEP eligibility is low, and the current available data does not explain this first leak of the PrEP Cascade.