HIV and TB Overview: Panama

At a glance

CDC works with partners in Panama to strengthen the country's public health and clinical systems, deliver quality HIV testing and treatment services, and respond to emerging public health threats.

The flag of Panama.

Background

CDC's Central American Regional Office partnered with the Ministries of Health (MOH) and the Council of Health Ministers of Central America in 2003. In collaboration, CDC responded to the HIV epidemic in the region.

CDC supports countries in achieving the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets and the World Health Organization's (WHO's) End Tuberculosis (TB) Strategy targets in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. The UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets are by 2030:

  • 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) will know their HIV status.
  • 95% of people who know their status will be on treatment.
  • 95 % of people on treatment will have suppressed viral loads.

Download CDC Panama's Fact Sheet
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Learn more about CDC's global HIV and TB work in Panama.

HIV and TB 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 at higher risk of infection

CDC supports the implementation of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) surveillance, prevention, and control strategy. It is known locally as Clinicas Amigables VICITS, by its Spanish acronym (Vigilancia Centinela de ITS).

VICITS provides tailored HIV prevention and testing service package to men who have sex with men, transgender women, and sex workers. This package includes:

  • Risk-based counseling.
  • Enhanced STI diagnosis and treatment.
  • Condom and lubricant distribution.
  • HIV testing.
  • Peer navigation for linkage to treatment.
  • A surveillance information system.

CDC contributed to the recent addition of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of the VICITS package.

Increase knowledge of HIV status through active case-finding strategies

CDC improves access to HIV testing among undiagnosed PLHIV by supporting active case-finding plans in CDC-supported departments. These include:

  • Testing as part of outreach strategies for key populations.
  • Index testing services.
  • Optimized provider-initiated testing.
  • Community testing focusing on men.

CDC launched HIV recent infection surveillance to identify areas of active transmission (i.e., PLHIV infected in the past 12 months). The surveillance serves to guide prevention and case-finding strategies at the public health level.

Improving linkage, ART initiation, advance HIV disease management among PLHIV

CDC supports the provision of a comprehensive treatment package that includes Track and Trace Pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART). The package supports linkage from community and non-governmental organizations health centers to ART clinics. The package also provides rapid ART initiation, including diagnosis and management of HIV advanced disease opportunistic infections diagnosis.

CDC advocates for optimized treatment regimens, including TLD transition and the introduction of differentiated service delivery models. Delivery models include pharmacy fast-track refills, multi-month prescriptions, high viral load tracking and management, intensified counseling, and follow-up of HIV patients.

Strengthening retention, sustainable viral load suppression among PLHIV

CDC supports:

  • Retention and re-engagement of PLHIV who are not in care or not virally suppressed.
  • Specimen referral evaluation.
  • Equipment, information, quality management systems and technology.
  • Coverage of viral load networks.

CDC works closely with Ministries of Health and other stakeholders to address the viral load network strengthening. This includes opening a new regional laboratory in Veraguas to support the country on viral load, among other capacities.

Increase the capacity of health care systems and the health workforce to serve PLHIV

CDC introduced the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model. ECHO is an innovative tele-mentoring initiative that uses a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing approach where expert teams lead virtual clinics. Overall, it amplifies the capacity for providers to deliver best-in-practice care to their communities.

Through ECHO, CDC has created virtual communities of practice in HIV prevention, treatment, laboratory, mental health, and strategic information. CDC launched the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Training Initiative. Participants learned how to apply concepts of CQI in the clinical setting to improve service quality. CDC also

  • Established the HIV Rapid Test CQI.
  • Conducts economic evaluations.
  • Strengthens surveillance systems to improve usage of funds.

Related content

Panama | Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Resources

Central America and Caribbean Regional Office
Learn more about CDC's Central America and Caribbean Regional Office.
Tracking PEPFAR Impact Toward Global Targets
CDC's leadership role in PHIA surveys including where these surveys have been conducted.
On the Frontlines
Partners in South Africa are leading efforts to implement PEPFAR's DREAMS program for adolescent gir...
Panama | Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts.
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CDC's Division of Global HIV & TB activities are implemented as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Non-HIV related TB activities are supported by non-PEPFAR funding.

Our success is built on the backbone of science and strong partnerships.

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Content Source:
Global Health Center