HIV and TB Overview: Honduras

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.

HIV and TB key data

HIV/AIDS

Tuberculosis (TB)

Key activities and accomplishments

Prevent new infections among people who are at higher risk

CDC supports implementation of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) surveillance, prevention, and control strategy, known as VICITS, 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 include testing through outreach strategies for people who are at higher risk for infection. It also includes optimized provider-initiated testing, and community testing with a focus on men. CDC and partners also support 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-ART. 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 with 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 with 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 health care 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

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