Abt Associates showcased the depth and breadth of its HIV/AIDS-related work during the 19th International AIDS Conference, held July 22-27 in Washington, D.C.
From measuring the sustainability of countries’ HIV/AIDS programs, to gauging the impact of HIV/AIDS care in jails, to bolstering private health care responses to HIV/AIDS, Abt has been a leader in thought and in practice.
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“We have sought, as a company and as individuals, to contribute to efforts to reduce the suffering and the painful impact that HIV/AIDS has had throughout our communities,” said Liza Solomon, a principal associate in Abt’s U.S. Health Division. Solomon presented results of work showing the value of HIV testing in U.S. jails during the July 22 conference satellite session “HIV in Corrections and Beyond, Progress and Challenges."
“Abt has worked to strengthen national HIV responses through effective and sustained engagement of private health providers,” said Sara Sulzbach, a senior associate in Abt’s International Health Division. Sulzbach on July 25 presented an oral abstract analyzing the role of private providers in HIV testing in 18 countries, one conclusion of which is that private providers perform as well or better than public providers in provision of HIV tests for pregnant women during prenatal care.
The SHOPS session featured African panelists who represented government as well as the private health sector and spoke about their respective experiences with private health care responses to HIV in Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, and Tanzania. Approximately 23.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live with HIV.
The panelists said that barriers still exist to HIV prevention and treatment, such as the cost of antiretroviral drugs and mistrust between the public and private health sectors. However, they said that public and private sector coordination has been demonstrated to be effective and that the private sector can help fill gaps in public health care services.
The Health Systems 20/20 session focused on the sustainability of HIV/AIDS resources in a challenging economic climate. Panelists included Evelyn Letio, a South Sudanese woman with HIV, and Roxanna Rogers, director of USAID’s office of HIV/AIDS. While Rogers said the U.S. government is committed to global efforts against HIV, some countries are searching local resources to supplement international funding.
Letio said that a lack of oil revenue and the cancelation of the latest Global Fund round of funding have led South Sudan to stop giving treatment for HIV for newly diagnosed HIV patients and instead concentrate on trying to get resources to at least maintain the existing treatment.
Itamar Katz, a senior associate in Abt’s International Health Division, spoke in a related conference session on July 23: “Where Will the Money Come From? Challenges and Approaches to Sustainability.” Katz said that while HIV program implementers often ask for help prioritizing their donor funding, they have not sought advice as often on maximizing resources beyond such funding, which can be unpredictable. Katz’ presentation was highlighted in
media reports.
“The AIDS conference is an important forum for advancing knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its impact,” said Scott Royal, vice president of Abt’s U.S. Health Division. “We increased our visibility at the conference and in doing so, made a contribution to better understanding of the epidemic both in the U.S. and internationally.”