At a glance
CDC’s Central America Regional Office works with partners to prioritize interventions that directly impact the quality of services for people living with HIV in Guatemala and people at greater risk of infection. CDC supports the scale-up of evidence-based programs to bridge gaps around HIV prevention, active case finding, early antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation, optimized treatment services, and achievement of viral load suppression with a targeted approach to strengthen systems essential to HIV epidemic control.
Background
Since 2003, CDC's Central America Regional Office has partnered with the region's Ministries of Health to respond to the HIV epidemic. It also collaborates with the Council of Health Ministers of Central America on this effort. CDC's collaboration with these regional partners is focused on strengthening both strategic information and prevention strategies targeting key populations. The partnership also focuses on improving the quality of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) treatment services to people living with HIV (PLHIV). CDC also supports countries within the region to achieve the goals of the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy.
Download CDC-Guatemala's Fact Sheet
HIV and TB key data
HIV/AIDS
Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)
Estimated AIDS Deaths (Age≥15)
Estimated Orphans Due to AIDS
Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (Age≥15)
Tuberculosis (TB)
Estimated TB Incidence
TB Patients with Known HIV-Status who are HIV-Positive
TB Treatment Success Rate
Key activities and accomplishments
Prevent new infections among people who are at higher risk
CDC supports the implementation of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) surveillance, prevention, and control strategy, known as VICTIS, its Spanish acronym. VICITS provides HIV prevention and testing services tailored for men who have sex with men, transgender women, and sex workers. The services include counseling, STI diagnosis and treatment, condom and lubricant distribution, HIV testing, and peer navigation for linkage to treatment. CDC also contributed to the addition of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of the VICITS package.
Increase knowledge of HIV status
CDC improves access to HIV testing among undiagnosed PLHIV by supporting active case-finding strategies. These testing strategies focus on reaching people who are at higher risk for HIV infection. The strategies include optimized provider-initiated testing, and community testing with a focus on men. It also includes index testing services (testing current and former partners and household members of PLHIV).
Improve linkage to treatment and advanced HIV disease management
CDC supports the provision of comprehensive treatment packages that include Track and Trace Pre-antiretroviral treatment. These programs strengthen the linkage of newly diagnosed PLHIV from community and non-governmental organization health centers to ART clinics. They also support rapid ART initiation, diagnosis, and management of HIV advanced disease.
Other benefits include managing opportunistic infections, intensified adherence counseling, and follow up of HIV patients. CDC advocates for optimized treatment regimens and the introduction of differentiated service delivery models. These patient-centered models include pharmacy fast track refill, multi-month prescriptions, viral load tracking, management, intensified counseling, and follow up of PLHIV.
Strengthen treatment retention and sustainable viral suppression
CDC supports retention and re-engagement of PLHIV who are not in care or not virally suppressed. CDC also evaluates the specimen referral, equipment, information, quality management systems, technology, and coverage of viral load networks.
Increase the capacity of healthcare systems and workforce
CDC introduced the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model. This tele-mentoring initiative uses a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing approach to amplify providers' capacity to deliver best-in-practice care to underserved communities. Through ECHO, CDC has created virtual communities of practice in HIV prevention, laboratory, treatment, mental health, and strategic information.
Additionally, CDC launched the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Training Initiative. Participants learned how to apply concepts of quality improvement in the clinical setting to improve service quality. CDC also established the HIV Rapid Test CQI initiative and conducts economic evaluations to ensure optimal use of funding for programs.
Resources
Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts.
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