What ’s the Future of HIV Care in Central America, During and After the Pandemic?

By Katherine Seaton, Former editorial officer, IntraHealth International ; Yadira Villase ñor, Chief of party, Central America HIV Care and Treatment Project and regional director, Central AmericaJuly 01, 2020In Central America, closures and shutdowns related toCOVID-19 have left many people—including those who live with HIV—unsure about where to pick up medications or how to get the health services they need.Yadira Villaseñor leads IntraHealth International’s work in Central America. She sat down with us to talk about how the region and its frontline health workers are tackling the pandemic and what the future of HIV care in Central America might look like.How are you responding to COVID-19 in the region?Here in Central America, we are adapting as much as we can during this challenging situation. Because frontline health workers face greater risk of COVID-19 infection, we are training them on how to respond to the disease, especially in how it relates to HIV treatment and prevention.We are also providing HIV treatment outside of the health facilities we support and dispensing medications that will last clients for multiple months, so they don’t have to go pick up their antiretroviral treatment (ART) at the pharmacy as often.And we are working with ministries of health to adapt and be flexible during this situation. People living with HIV must be able to continue with their treatment, despite the pandemic.How are you seeing people who live ...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: HIV & AIDS COVID-19 IntraHealth ' s 40th Anniversary Source Type: news