News from Last Year's One Million Tests Campaign

Overview

AIDS Day: Successful Global HIV Testing Campaign to Test 1M People Marches On

Enthusiastic Response Greets Worldwide HIV Testing Campaign Led By AHF; 1,000 Organizations in 72 Countries Team Together to Test One Million People Worldwide November 26th - December 1st for Week of World AIDS Day

As part of its global World AIDS Day effort to test one million people for HIV, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides medical care and services in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, spearheaded the One Million Tests campaign. The campaign, which has been organized by AHF in coalition with over 1,000 global partners from 72 countries around the world, mobilized non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and national governments, international relief agencies, faith-based organizations and civil society to participate. The goal: a worldwide commitment to provide a total of ONE MILLION Free HIV Tests during an extended World AIDS Day week from November 26th through December 1st-World AIDS Day.

“Our 'One Million Tests' campaign has been met with a wildly enthusiastic response in all corners of the world,” said Terri Ford, Director of Global Advocacy for AHF and Coordinator of the 'One Million Tests' campaign, in a statement from Africa where she is overseeing AHF's own 'One Million Tests' World AIDS Day testing efforts in South Africa and Uganda. “The collaboration and participation of so many partner organizations-NGOs, health ministries, government bodies, faith-based groups and others-has been inspiring, but I am truly heartened and humbled by those individuals who are seeking out the testing services that we and the more than thousand partner organizations are providing this week.”

“Testing, and linkage to care and treatment, when needed, are crucial linchpins in helping us break the chain of HIV infection,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Not only does antiretroviral treatment save the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, it also helps prevent further transmission of the virus. It is our belief that the successes of our 'One Million Tests' campaign clearly show how we can overcome roadblocks in the fight against HIV/AIDS-be they logistics, bureaucracy, stigma or indifference-by working together to develop easily accessible HIV testing models and improved access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment worldwide.”

Following is a snapshot of some ongoing testing successes in the 1MT WAD campaign:

CAMBODIA-(Phnom Penh) As of Friday, November 28th, 3,518 people had tested and 69 positive individuals were identified which resulted in a prevalence rate of 1.9 %. The testing campaign, which is taking place in eight provinces throughout Cambodia, expanded over the weekend and the country expects to conduct more than 30,000 HIV tests during the campaign.

MEXICO-(Mexico City) As part of this global project, Latin American and Caribbean governmental and non-governmental agencies have committed to doing 45,000 free HIV tests. At one recent testing event in Mexico City held at the plaza by the Metro Insurgentes rapid transit stop, more than 500 people tested during a six-hour free health clinic. Six individuals were found to be HIV-positive and linked to follow up care and treatment.

UGANDA-(Masaka) At a one-day testing event in the town of Masaka, about two hours south of Kampala, 1,941 individuals tested. AHF's Uganda CARES spearheaded a mass mobilization effort and conducted group pre-test counseling for the daylong event, which followed a high-spirited AIDS awareness march of thousands of citizens marching through the town led by government, health and military officials.

USA-(Los Angeles) AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the group spearheading the entire global 'One Million Tests' campaign, held a 24-hour free rapid HIV testing marathon at its flagship 'Out of the Closet' fundraising thrift store and HIV testing site on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood. Within the first ten minutes, twenty-three individuals signed in for testing-a number that would usually test in a normal four-hour testing shift. By the end of the testing marathon, AHF tested 146 individuals at this one testing site; three individuals were found to be HIV positive (slightly above 2%), and each was linked to follow up counseling, care and treatment.

There are currently 33 million people worldwide thought to be living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, only about three million people in the developing world have access to lifesaving antiretroviral AIDS medications. The vast majority the 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide have never been tested for the virus.

Countries taking part in the 'One Million Tests' campaign Include:
Asia-Armenia, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam
Africa-Uganda, South Africa, Swaziland, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone
Europe (Western)-Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain
Europe (Eastern)-Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine
Latin America-Mexico, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, The Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela
North America & the Caribbean-US, Canada, Anguilla, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Virgin Islands
Australia-Australia, Fiji, The Solomon Islands

 

Mexico

Mexico City: 500 People Flock to Day of Free HIV Testing at Metro Insurgentes

“In preparation for Latin America’s participation in the One Million Tests World AIDS Day 2008 initiative, AIDS Healthcare Foundation conducted a four day training program on HIV testing and counseling in Mexico City this past week for partners from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and from throughout Mexico,” said Dra. Patricia Campos, Jefe de la Oficina de America Latina, AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “On Thursday, we conducted a day-long health fair and offered free HIV rapid HIV testing at Metro Insurgentes in Mexico City. We were heartened that so many people came seeking tests. At the event, 500 individuals were tested, and of these, six people were found to be HIV-positive. Each was counseled and linked to a clinic for follow up care and access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment.”

As part of a groundbreaking global effort to test one million people for HIV, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides medical care and services to more than 85,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, is spearheading and coordinating the ‘One Million Tests World AIDS Day 2008’ campaign, a worldwide initiative to test one million people in conjunction with the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day. As part of this global project, AHF, together with Latin American and Caribbean governmental and non-governmental agencies, have committed to doing 45,000 free HIV tests in Latin America during the week of November 24 through December 1 (World AIDS Day)—a significant contribution to the worldwide goal of one million tests.

 

India

AHF/India Cares Surpasses 10,000 in Innovative HIV Testing Mobilization Effort

Spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Dozens of India-based Organizations Participate in Lead Up to AHF’s World AIDS Day 2008 “One Million Tests” Initiative, an Historic HIV Testing Campaign That Aims to Test One Million People Worldwide

AIDS Healthcare Foundation/India Cares is proud to announce that, as part of its HIV testing mobilization effort leading up to World AIDS Day 2008, more than 10,000 individuals in India have been screened for HIV. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides AIDS medical care and services to more than 85,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, spearheaded the efforts in India as part of its worldwide initiative to test one million people in conjunction with the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day.

AHF/India Cares’ partners in this endeavor include World Vision India, Apollo Tyres Foundation, Naz Foundation, Shanti Foundation, Humana People to People India, St. Xavier Hospital, Saubhagya, Maitri, Mamta Samajik Sanstha, Blessing Society, Assam Network of Positive People, SASO, THREADS, GAWS, HESA, CCBOS, Drishtikon, Nari Manch, KIMS, Love Life Society, Sanskaari Welfare Society, SEVA, and Lok Chetna Vikas Kendra.

“AHF/India Cares is pleased to have mobilized such a diverse and committed coalition and, with our partners, to have reached this important milestone: conducting more than 10,000 HIV tests in the lead up to World AIDS Day 2008. We look forward to continued collaboration as we all work together to address India’s HIV/AIDS epidemic by increasing HIV testing and ensuring that those who do test positive are linked to follow-up care and provided with access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment,” said Chinkholal Thangsing, M.D., Asia Pacific Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

According to a United Nations-sanctioned report that was released by Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss in July 2007, India is thought to have nearly 2.47 million living with HIV/AIDS today. With a population of over 1.1 billion, India's HIV prevalence is still considered relatively low; however only a small fraction of those people living with the disease have access to lifesaving care and medical treatment, and access to testing has been limited.

AHF/India Cares operates antiretroviral treatment programs in the cities of New Delhi and Mysore. AHF provides ART treatment and care services to more than 6,500 people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the country. The AHF/India Cares Clinic in New Delhi, the Centre of Excellence, opened in October 2006, and offers testing, psychosocial support and ART services, including pediatric treatment. The goal of the center is to provide ART services to 2,000 patients over a period of five years. AHF also operates Mobile HIV Testing Units in order to make testing accessible and to reach out to India’s migrant population—a primary corridor of transmission.

 

Cambodia

Cambodia Kicks Off 1M World AIDS Day Testing Campaign at Water Festival

AHF Cambodia CARES Donates 20,000 Kits to Government Testing Programs and Commits to Test 10,000 Individuals; Hard-hit Country Will Test 30,000 People Throughout November

As part of an ambitious global effort to test one million people for HIV in observance of the World AIDS Day 2008 One Million Tests campaign, AHF/Cambodia CARES launched its inaugural testing effort during the annual Water Festival, the largest festival in the Cambodian calendar which marks the end of the rainy season. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides AIDS medical care and services to more than 83,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, spearheaded the worldwide initiative to test one million people in conjunction with the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day.

AHF Cambodia CARES, which operates 11 free AIDS treatment clinics throughout the country, has taken a leadership role in Cambodia’s HIV testing efforts by donating 20,000 kits to government HIV testing programs. In addition, AHF Cambodia CARES has also committed to testing 10,000 individuals. As a result, one of the countries in the Asia Pacific region that has been hardest-hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic will test 30,000 people for HIV throughout the month of November.

“With the beginning of the Water Festival today, AHF Cambodia CARES was pleased to get an early start and launch our country’s participation in the World AIDS Day 2008 One Million Tests campaign. At four sites in Phnom Penh, AHF Cambodia CARES tested 250 individuals. Of these, three people were found to be HIV-positive, and each has been counseled and linked to a clinic for follow up care and access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment,” said Chhim Sarath, M.D., AHF Country Program Coordinator for Cambodia.

Cambodia is one of the poorest nations in Asia and also has one of the most rapidly growing HIV/AIDS epidemics in the region. The HIV epidemic has spread beyond high-risk groups such as sex workers, male police officers, factory workers, mobile populations, injection drug users and men who have sex with men, to the general population.

The number of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers in Cambodia has increased dramatically over the last 5 years (only 12 sites in 2000 to 199 sites by the first quarter or 2008). Of the current 199 VCT centers, 180 are supported directly by the government, while 19 are supported by non-governmental organizations.

 

Uganda

Uganda: Over 1,200 People Tested for HIV on One Day, at One Site

As we work toward scaling up the World AIDS Day 2008 One Million HIV Tests initiative, working together with hundreds of testing partners around the globe, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is pleased to report some initial impressive—and other eye-opening—global benchmarks and statistics in the campaign:

In Uganda, the World AIDS Day testing effort started on November 3rd.

  • At one site in Kampala, the Nakasero Marketplace, AHF’s Uganda Cares team tested 1268 people on the same day

Leading up to the November 3rd kickoff of the World AIDS Day Testing initiative in Uganda, AHF’s Uganda Cares undertook outreach and testing throughout the month of October.

  • By October 31st 2008, 8460 people have been tested through AHF’s programs in Uganda. Of these 862 were found to be HIV-positive—a 10.2% sero-prevalence rate (compared to the national sero-prevalence rate of approximately 6.5%)

Among the innovative outreach efforts in Uganda, AHF and Uganda Cares brings HIV testing directly to the community by bringing the testing technology at several landing sites for fishermen throughout the country. At one such location in Bukakata, 60 people were tested for HIV on October 13th. Of these individuals, 57 were found to be HIV-positive—a daunting 95% sero-positive rate.  The upside of this stark statistic is that these individuals may now be linked to care and lifesaving antiretroviral treatment—which will not only directly help save these fishermens’ lives, but should also help break the chain of new infections.

Summary Report for Mass Testing Activities in Uganda

  • Project is targeting market communities- both urban and rural; fish landing sites & lower health units that are close to the community through outreaches.
  • Key approaches used include; community mobilization & sensitization; group counseling, rapid testing, home based counseling and testing; routine counseling and testing within health centers
  • Project is being implemented in partnership with NGOs, MoH sites with a lot of support received from local district administrations who have fully embraced the project
  • 10 districts are implementation sites for the project including Kampala, Masaka, Rakai, Lyantonde, Mpigi, Soroti, Mbale, Busia, Tororo and Ntungamo
  • 8460 people have been tested as of 31st October, of whom 862 have tested positive. Average sero-prevalence is 10.2 %.( National average is estimated at 6.5%)
  • One fish landing site in particular (Bukakata) in Masaka had an alarming seroprevalence rate of 95%

 

India

Partners Join in Testing Training in India

AIDS Healthcare Foundation India Cares conducted a HIV Testing and Counseling Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop in New Delhi, India on Sep 29th and 30th 2008. The purpose of this TOT workshop was to identify the various like minded organizations who can organize and scale up rapid HIV testing across the nation and convey the mission, objectives and concept of the AHF Global HIV Testing Initiatives and One Million Tests – World AIDS Day 2008 Campaign to all the participating organizations.  

The workshop trained the trainers from various organizations across the nation who had agreed to join the One Million Tests Campaign on streamlined HIV testing models and counseling. This was done in continuation to AHF’s call to make Universal Access to testing and treatment a global reality. The workshop helped in identifying the various strategies that will be involved in community settings across India to make the One Million Tests Campaign during World AIDS Day week a success.  The training included analyzing and identifying the strategic models and resources required that would be employed in the World AIDS 2008 campaign. This platform was also utilized to practically train the participants on the 60 second INSTI rapid test kits manufactured by bioLytical Laboratories, who were on sight and participated in the training.  

The workshop was attended by 42 participants from 23 organizations across India who all contributed ideas and input toward the campaign roll-out. These included World Vision India, Apollo Tyres Foundation, Naz Foundation, Shanti Foundation, Humana People to People India, St. Xavier Hospital, Saubhagya, Maitri, Mamta Samajik Sanstha, Blessing Society, Assam Network of Positive People, SASO, THREADS, GAWS, HESA, CCBOS, Drishtikon, Nari   Manch, KIMS, Love Life Society, Sanskaari Welfare Society, SEVA, and Lok Chetna Vikas Kendra.

 

China

Report of AHF China HIV Testing Campaign for World AIDS Day 2008

In observance of World AIDS Day 2008, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) organized a global coalition to conduct one million HIV tests all over the world. The AHF China Cares project has mobilized ten organizations, including AHF project sites and the China CDC, to be involved the HIV testing campaign with the goal of providing 15,000 HIV screening tests.

AHF's clinic in Linfen, the first AHF China Cares clinic in China, has agreed to carry out community-based HIV testing in Linfen City and surrounding counties. To minimize discrimination and fear surrounding HIV testing, Linfen ID hospital has integrated HIV testing with other physical examinations, such as Hepatitis B screening and blood cholesterol screening to increase acceptability. Linfen ID hospital drove the mobile van with doctors to each town and village to offer physical examinations to those living in hard-to-reach, rural communities. So far, 1450 HIV screening test have been completed  and 4 HIV - positive cases have been detected. The prevalence rate is 0.29%, which is higher than the general HIV prevalence rate in China  -  0.05%.

Linfen ID hospital has coordinated with Linfen CDC to provide follow-up care services to those who have tested HIV-positive. Linfen CDC will do the confirming tests and then, if appropriate, the CD4 count tests. If the patient needs treatment, he/she will be transferred to Linfen ID hospital for health services.