This multi-country case study from the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office highlights important HIV-specific interventions that were integrated into the emergency cyclone response in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe during and after Cyclone Idai in March 2019.
Caring for people living with HIV during the ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. The outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that hit Sierra Leone in May 2014 ravaged communities, severely disrupting general health services and reducing access to those services. The epidemic rapidly spread to all districts in the country, with varying levels of intensity.
UNICEF's Lessons Learned for HIV Programming: 2013 Floods in Gaza Province, Mozambique
Despite the high HIV prevalence in gaza Province, HIV was not accounted for in the initial emergency response and assessments. This oversight affected treatment continuity and other services for PLHIV. Continued access to HIV treatment and services is critical to preventing new infections and drug resistance.
This brief is intended for colleagues in UNICEF country offices working on El Niño response plans in order to make appropriate links to HIV and ensure that risks are mitigated and addressed. It highlights the effects of El Niño’s impact on HIV-related vulnerabilities and services, and on people living with HIV. This brief can also be used for advocacy with governments, development partners and donors.
The purpose is to help participants develop the contingency planning they need in order to be able to continue to provide HIV-related services in humanitarian situations (e.g. a ood, an earthquake, violence, etc.). In the best case scenario, the national contingency plan includes HIV, but this is often not the case. After this exercise, the plan should be synced into the national contingency plan.
Humanitarian emergencies in countries with a high HIV disease burden can cause considerable PMTCT antiretroviral treatment (ART) interruption. The risk of drug resistance emerging is increased, efficacy of treatment compromised and the effective scale-up of lifelong ART for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV is impeded. Therefore, strategies to ensure the uninterrupted supply of antiretrovirals for PMTCT during crises are needed. This paper highlights lessons learned from PMTCT implementation in emergencies based on reported literature, key informant interviews, and recommendations made. The review focuses on delivering ART for PMTCT.