To reduce the incidence of new HIV and HCV infections, BASIC has launched the CHEP (Comprehensive HIV/HCV Educational Prevention). This initiative is focused on increasing awareness of the HIV/HCV epidemics, promoting various risk reduction strategies, including PrEP, and expanding access to HIV/HCV testing, as well as care and treatment services.
The primary goals of this community-based program are to diagnose HIV and HCV at the earliest stage and ensure swift and effective linkage to treatment and care services. To achieve these objectives, we have adopted key strategies, including:
- Preventing new HIV and HCV infections;
- Implementing community outreach, with a focus on HIV/HCV prevention and risk reduction interventions, including education about PrEP and referral service;
- Promoting HIV testing in non-health care settings;
- Providing referrals and linkages to additional prevention services, such as PrEP intake, care, and treatment services, as necessary.
Furthermore, the following core activities are carried out to fulfill these objectives:
- Educating on HIV prevention/risk reduction interventions, including PrEP, via community outreach and messaging;
- Conducting HCV prevention and risk reduction education through community outreach;
- Offering targeted HIV testing services and ensuring linkage to care and treatment services as required;
- Facilitating integrated HCV testing in non-medical settings;
- Ensuring linkage to HCV care and treatment services when needed.
