BaltHIV shares experience from the HERMETIC project in France.

In the European project HERMETIC (2015-2018), were combined statistical modelling and surveillance data to estimate HIV incidence, the distribution of time from HIV infection to diagnosis and the number of individuals living with undiagnosed HIV at the national and sub-national levels in four European countries (France, Belgium, Estonia and Latvia). Eight teams, including research teams and NGOs, from four European countries, had been involved in this collaborative interdisciplinary project.

At this one-day conference in 16th October, teams will present the studies conducted throughout the HERMETIC project and share and disseminate our results with other scientists, national health authorities and surveillance, institutions and community-based organizations. Participants from Latvia Inga Upmace ( Baltic HIV Association) and Ruta Kaupe (DIA+LOGS) will present 2 pilot studies about Bridging the gap for risk groups (MSM & IDUs) for undiagnosed parts. Anda Ķīvīte (RSU, Latvia) – Diagnostic accuracy, feasibility and acceptability of HIV oral fluid rapid tests among hard-to-reach key populations in Latvia.

Government of Latvia revokes the criteria for accessing treatment of HIV

National Health Department in Latvia decided to revoke the criteria regarding receiving free access to HIV treatments. Starting 1st October patients with HIV can get government compensated medicine for HIV treatment irrespective of their CD4 cell count.

COBATEST

NGO “Baltic HIV Association’s” Checkpoint takes part in the training within World Health Organization’s project!

On 10th – 11th June colleagues from the Centre for Epidemiological Studies of Sexually Transmitted Disease and AIDS in Catalonia (CEEISCAT) were in Latvia to train Checkpoint staff for World Health Organization’s study “Utility evaluation of Point-of-Care Tests in Non-Clinical Settings for the Screening of HIV and Syphilis in MSM ‘.

In this study innovative dual HIV/syphilis rapid tests will be used and compared with routine rapid tests that we use in Checkpoint. We are going to recruit 150 MSM participants till April 2019, that will let us evaluate new tests as well as follow HIV and syphilis prevalence within MSM.

Conclusions about Hepatitis week

Hepatitis week in Checkpoint came to its conclusion. Despite the fact there was extra attention brought to media and social networks about the diagnostics of Hepatitis C, only 10 persons used the chance get tested.

Checkpoint reminds:

Everyone is welcome to get a confidential and free rapid test in Stabu Street 19 every Tuesday and Wednesday from 18.00 till 20.30.

BaltHIV and Checkpoint want to say thank you to C hepatīta pacientu apvienība (Hepatitis C patient Union), who shared with us special Hepatitis week badges. Come and get tested for hepatitis C and get one for free!

BaltHIV presents research in AIDS conference Amsterdam

NGO ”Baltic HIV Association” took part in the HERMETIC project research, where an innovative, oral fluid rapid test to detect HIV was used and compared with routine capillary blood HIV test. Research was aimed at men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as exploring their attitude towards the new testing method.

Results were presented by Anda Ķīvīte, the RSU project manager and a member of NGO ”Baltic HIV Association”, at the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018), hosted in Amsterdam, Netherlands from the 23rd-27th July 2018. Inga Upmace, Indra Liniņa and Ruta Kaupe, co-authors of research, also took part in this conference.

The HERMETIC project researchers want to express gratitude to Checkpoint team for taking part in the study as well as participants for their time and trust!

Konferences dalībnieču (A.Ķīvīte, I.Liniņa, I.Upmace un R. Kaupe) kopfoto pie HERMETIC konferences postera (26.07.2018.)