Contingency plan for continuity of HIV services during emergencies

Abstract

Background/aim Public health emergencies such as the current COVID-19 crisis, impose a major burden on health systems, complicating access to quality health services. With an already exhausted health system and scarce resources, the burden is greater, placing the most vulnerable groups at higher risk of being left behind. This paper was done to develop a risk assessment and contingency plan guide built on the good practices developed in the context of COVID-19 epidemic in Egypt to ensure continuity of HIV services. Participants and methods Qualitative survey was done to collect data included individual interviews and focus group discussions with people living with HIV (PLHIV) and most at risk populations to collect their experiences and perspectives about how HIV/AIDS is managed during emergencies and the impact of emergencies on PLHIV Results The majority of PLHIV (80%) together with key population emphasizes the availability of antiretroviral drugs all the times except for few of them (20%) who experienced one- or two-times unavailability of one of lines of treatment. it was repeated that existing health services were interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic and access to HIV prevention, care was disturbed and hindered due to many factors (insecurity, fear and lack of information and lack of social and financial support). Conclusion In any emergency crisis there is an increase vulnerability to HIV transmission but also disrupt adherence to HIV care and treatment services.