PEPFAR’s Role in Protecting and Leveraging HIV Services in the COVID-19 Response in Africa

Carol W. Holtzman; Catherine Godfrey; Lawal Ismail; Elliot Raizes; Julie A. Ake; Fana Tefera; Salome Okutoyi; George K. Siberry

doi:10.1007/s11904-021-00587-6

PEPFAR’s Role in Protecting and Leveraging HIV Services in the COVID-19 Response in Africa

Carol W. Holtzman, Catherine Godfrey, Lawal Ismail, Elliot Raizes, Julie A. Ake, Fana Tefera, Salome Okutoyi, George K. Siberry^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of Review: We describe the impact of COVID-19 on PEPFAR programs in Africa and how PEPFAR adapted and leveraged its interventions to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Findings: To mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the HIV response and protect the gains, continuity of treatment was the guiding principle regarding the provision of services in PEPFAR-supported countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic matured, PEPFAR’s approach evolved from a strictly “protect and salvage” approach to a “restore and accelerate” approach that embraced innovative adaptations in service and “person-centered” care. Summary: The impact of service delivery interruptions caused by COVID-19 on progress towards HIV epidemic control in PEPFAR-supported African countries remains undetermined. With COVID vaccine coverage many months away and more transmissible variants being reported, Africa may experience more pandemic surges. HIV programs will depend on nimble and innovative adaptations in prevention and treatment services in order to advance epidemic control objectives.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	26-36
Number of pages	11
Journal	Current HIV/AIDS Reports
Volume	19
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-021-00587-6
State	Published - Feb 2022
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Africa
COVID-19
Continuity of services
HIV
PEPFAR
Program adaptation

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10.1007/s11904-021-00587-6

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title = "PEPFAR{\textquoteright}s Role in Protecting and Leveraging HIV Services in the COVID-19 Response in Africa",

abstract = "Purpose of Review: We describe the impact of COVID-19 on PEPFAR programs in Africa and how PEPFAR adapted and leveraged its interventions to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Findings: To mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the HIV response and protect the gains, continuity of treatment was the guiding principle regarding the provision of services in PEPFAR-supported countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic matured, PEPFAR{\textquoteright}s approach evolved from a strictly “protect and salvage” approach to a “restore and accelerate” approach that embraced innovative adaptations in service and “person-centered” care. Summary: The impact of service delivery interruptions caused by COVID-19 on progress towards HIV epidemic control in PEPFAR-supported African countries remains undetermined. With COVID vaccine coverage many months away and more transmissible variants being reported, Africa may experience more pandemic surges. HIV programs will depend on nimble and innovative adaptations in prevention and treatment services in order to advance epidemic control objectives.",

keywords = "Africa, COVID-19, Continuity of services, HIV, PEPFAR, Program adaptation",

author = "Holtzman, {Carol W.} and Catherine Godfrey and Lawal Ismail and Elliot Raizes and Ake, {Julie A.} and Fana Tefera and Salome Okutoyi and Siberry, {George K.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1007/s11904-021-00587-6",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

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journal = "Current HIV/AIDS Reports",

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AU - Holtzman, Carol W.

AU - Godfrey, Catherine

AU - Ismail, Lawal

AU - Raizes, Elliot

AU - Ake, Julie A.

AU - Tefera, Fana

AU - Okutoyi, Salome

AU - Siberry, George K.

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - Purpose of Review: We describe the impact of COVID-19 on PEPFAR programs in Africa and how PEPFAR adapted and leveraged its interventions to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Findings: To mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the HIV response and protect the gains, continuity of treatment was the guiding principle regarding the provision of services in PEPFAR-supported countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic matured, PEPFAR’s approach evolved from a strictly “protect and salvage” approach to a “restore and accelerate” approach that embraced innovative adaptations in service and “person-centered” care. Summary: The impact of service delivery interruptions caused by COVID-19 on progress towards HIV epidemic control in PEPFAR-supported African countries remains undetermined. With COVID vaccine coverage many months away and more transmissible variants being reported, Africa may experience more pandemic surges. HIV programs will depend on nimble and innovative adaptations in prevention and treatment services in order to advance epidemic control objectives.

AB - Purpose of Review: We describe the impact of COVID-19 on PEPFAR programs in Africa and how PEPFAR adapted and leveraged its interventions to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Findings: To mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the HIV response and protect the gains, continuity of treatment was the guiding principle regarding the provision of services in PEPFAR-supported countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic matured, PEPFAR’s approach evolved from a strictly “protect and salvage” approach to a “restore and accelerate” approach that embraced innovative adaptations in service and “person-centered” care. Summary: The impact of service delivery interruptions caused by COVID-19 on progress towards HIV epidemic control in PEPFAR-supported African countries remains undetermined. With COVID vaccine coverage many months away and more transmissible variants being reported, Africa may experience more pandemic surges. HIV programs will depend on nimble and innovative adaptations in prevention and treatment services in order to advance epidemic control objectives.

KW - Africa

KW - COVID-19

KW - Continuity of services

KW - HIV

KW - PEPFAR

KW - Program adaptation

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PEPFAR’s Role in Protecting and Leveraging HIV Services in the COVID-19 Response in Africa

Abstract

Keywords

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