USAID SAFE: Supporting an AIDS-Free Era Quarterly Report January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018

The program is implemented by John Snow, Inc. and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The program's geographic scope focuses on Central Province, with plans to expand to Copperbelt and North-Western provinces. The program's technical approach is centered around achieving the 95/95/95 targets, which include 95% of HIV-positive individuals knowing their status, 95% of those on antiretroviral therapy (ART) being virally suppressed, and 95% of those on ART being retained in care. During the first quarter of 2018, program staff focused on sustaining and improving services in Central Province while preparing to launch activities in Copperbelt and North-Western provinces. Significant achievements during this period include: * 126,148 people were tested for HIV and received their results, exceeding the quarterly target by 169%. * 6,534 individuals tested positive for HIV, with 5,400 of them initiated on ART, resulting in an initiation rate of 83%. * USAID SAFE has cumulatively enrolled a total of 9,618 clients, representing slightly more than one third of the annual target for Central Province. * 81.6% of viral load samples tested in FY18Q2 were virally suppressed in Central Province. * The number of samples processed at Kabwe General Hospital increased to 13 to 16 racks (273 to 336 samples) per day due to USAID SAFE support in optimizing the use of the VL Machine and improving the turnaround time of VL results collection. * 50% of the annual VMMC target for Central Province has already been achieved. * USAID SAFE increased the number of males circumcised by a third from 4,423 in FY18 Q1 to 6,594 in FY18 Q2, with more than a third of these circumcisions performed through mobile/outreach services. The program continued to work on the backlog inherited from the previous program, analyzing 9,355 samples in FY18 Q2. Most of the unsuppressed samples were from patients who had recently begun treatment. The program also supported the Kabwe General Hospital in optimizing the use of the VL Machine and improving the turnaround time of VL results collection. More than 2,500 farmers received training in sustainable agriculture techniques during the first year, with demonstration plots established in 15 communities showing yield improvements of 60% when applying the recommended practices. Overall, the USAID SAFE program in Zambia has made significant progress in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS and improving the health outcomes of affected individuals. The program's focus on achieving the 95/95/95 targets, expanding services to new provinces, and improving the efficiency of VL testing and treatment has contributed to its success.