STRICT identifies the need for reaching out to sexual partners of index clients and providing them with HIV Testing Services (HTS) as they belong to a high risk priority population and also linking them to care and treatment. This group of people must be reached with HTS strategies in order to end the HIV epidemic as evidenced by high sero-prevalence of 51% among them.

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Background: Achieving optimal virologic suppression among key population groups is essential to HIV epidemic control. The recommendation to transition HIV positive key populations from efavirenz-based regimen (Tenofovir, Lamivudine, Efavirenz (TLE)) to dolutegravir-based regimen (Tenofovir, Lamivudine, Dolutegravir (TLD)) considered the effectiveness of dolutegravir in achieving suppressed viral loads within a short period of time. The aim of this study was to investigate the virologic outcome of key populations (KP) transitioned to dolutegravir-based regimen. Setting: Five key population (KP) treatment facilities in Southern Nigeria. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study using secondary level program data. Eligible KP were clients already on TLE for at least 6 months, transitioned to TLD based on the new national HIV treatment guideline recommending TLD as the new first line treatment for HIV clients. We implemented a phased transition schedule switching clients from efavirenz to dolutegravir based regimen. We assigned clients to transitioned and delayed transition groups based on available secondary data from a retention and audit determination tool (RADET). Viral load test was conducted for all clients at 6 months after commencement of TLE.

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Background:The global impact of COVID-19 continues to affect all sectors, especially the healthcare sector.Settings: This retrospective study was conducted using data generated from routine program implementation in low and middle income setting across 2 north eastern states of Nigeria in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on access to HIV services in Northeast Nigeria. We assessed data from four periods: pre-COVID (November 2019-March 2020), COVID lockdown (April-May 2020), COVID restrictions (June-July 2020), and COVID relaxed restrictions (August -September 2020).Results: Analysis revealed a reduction in HIV service outcome during the COVID lockdown. Of the 602 new HIV cases identified in that period, only 413 were linked to care, signifying a 68.8% ART uptake rate compared to 93% in the pre-COVID period.Conclusions: Strategic measures are needed to ensure continued HIV service delivery care for key populations to counter subsequent effects of the pandemic.