BACKGROUND

According to UNAIDS (2014), as many as 30 percent of newly HIV-infected people in Mozambique are female sex workers (FSW), their customers, or their regular partners. A 2010/2012 Integrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS) study of FSW in the urban areas of Maputo, Beira and Nampula showed HIV incidence rates around 20 percent, with regional variation. A 2011 IBBS study of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the same urban areas showed approximately eight percent HIV prevalence among this group. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The five-year Integrated HIV Prevention and Health Services program, known as PASSOS (Steps) aims to improve health and HIV outcomes among key and priority populations, including FSW, MSM, intravenous drug users, and their regular partners, by reducing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in eight provinces in Mozambique. The activity will provide quality, friendly, linked and integrated services across the continuum of care to key populations of FSW and MSM who are at high risk of contracting HIV and other STIs. Both groups suffer from stigma, discrimination, and a lack of social status, hampering their access to quality HIV services. The emphasis of this program is to make quality services available by means that can be scaled-up, through improved referrals and linkages across the continuum of both community and clinic-based services. 

EXPECTED RESULTS/IMPACTS

•    Increase access to integrated and comprehensive HIV interventions and health services for key and priority populations; 
•    Promote an enabling environment that decreases social and structural barriers to accessing HIV and related services for key and priority populations; 
•    Strengthen mapping, monitoring and tracking systems of services offered to key populations across the continuum of care.