Thread by @WHO

Saving lives from HIV starts with testing.
WHO recommends a standard #HIV testing strategy to help countries reach the 8.1 million people living with HIV who are yet to be diagnosed.

bit.ly/2OQ03xN

@pahowho @WHOSEARO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO @WHO_Europe @WHOAFRO At the end of 2018, there were 36.7 million people with #HIV 🌎🌍🌏.
Of these:
79% had been diagnosed
62% were on treatment
53% had reduced their HIV levels through sustained treatment
bit.ly/2OQ03xN

Delivering timely & accurate #HIV testing to the remaining undiagnosed people and linking them to care will help substantially ⬇️ the 770,000 HIV-related deaths occurring annually bit.ly/2OQ03xN

Good #HIV testing is key to ensuring people are diagnosed early & treated. Good services also ensure that people who test HIV negative receive counseling, so that they can access effective prevention services. This will help ⬇️ the 1.7M new HIV infections occurring every year.

@WHOSEARO @WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO The new WHO consolidated guidelines on #HIV testing services recommend countries
1⃣ adopt a standard HIV testing strategy which uses 3 consecutive reactive tests to provide an HIV positive diagnosis vs previously 2 tests bit.ly/2OQ03xN

@WHOSEARO @WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO The new WHO consolidated guidelines on #HIV testing services recommend countries
2⃣ use #HIV self-testing as a gateway to diagnosis: new evidence shows that people are more likely to be tested if they can access HIV self-tests
bit.ly/2OQ03xN

@WHOSEARO @WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO The new WHO consolidated guidelines on #HIV testing services recommend
3⃣ social network-based testing to reach groups who are at high risk but have less access to services:
🔸young girls
🔸men who have sex with men
🔸people who inject drugs
🔸sex workers
🔸prisoners

@WHOSEARO @WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO The new WHO consolidated guidelines on #HIV testing services recommend
4⃣ use of peer-led, innovative digital communications such as short messages and videos which can build demand and increase uptake of HIV testing bit.ly/2OQ03xN

@WHOSEARO @WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO The new WHO consolidated guidelines on #HIV testing services recommend
5⃣ focused community efforts to deliver rapid testing through lay providers for relevant countries in the European, South-East Asian, Western Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean regions

@WHOSEARO @WHO_Europe @pahowho @WHOAFRO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO The new WHO consolidated guidelines on #HIV testing services recommend
6⃣ Using HIV/syphilis dual rapid tests in antenatal care to help countries eliminate mother-to-child transmission of both infections bit.ly/2OQ03xN