I-TECH India – NewBuzz for Oct 2020
PEPFAR requires minimum standards to be in place, at all sites, and for all personnel involved with offering index testing services. All index testing must meet the WHO’s 5Cs of HIV testing services: consensual, confidential, includes counseling, correct test results and connection to treatment or prevention services. Further, sites offering index testing services must ensure appropriate systems are in place for testing service providers to identify and respond to clients who disclose their fear of or experience with Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) from named partner(s). COP20 Guidance requires USG and implementing partners to verify compliance with these minimum standards at all PEPFAR supported sites.
Project Sunshine implements Index Testing in 108 sites in North East India and started the process of Red Cap Assessment of these sites in the month of October 2020. The tool was converted to Google Forms and the team was provided training on the process of assessment and the tool. An initial pilot was conducted in 6 sites to assess the time and feasibility of conducting online assessment owing to COVID related travel restrictions. The assessment of all sites is planned to be completed by the second week of November 2020.