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The latest entry in the Protecting Global Gains series, In Thailand, Telehealth Moves PrEP Out of the HIV Clinic, profiles how Thailand trained lay providers—health workers without formal medical certifications—adapted to offer PrEP at community clinics nationwide during the pandemic.
The lockdowns and social distance protocols triggered by COVID-19 have led to devastating disruptions to health services in Thailand and around the world. Many countries report as many as 75 percent of their HIV services, including PrEP, have been impaired. Yet, flexibility and adaptability have paid dividends for connecting people to HIV prevention services. This update from Thailand explores a model of PrEP delivery in which lay providers relied on virtual consultations with medical staff to connect clients to a one-month supply of PrEP, and how this model proved instrumental to sustaining access to PrEP during COVID-19.
This model from Thailand, pioneered by the Bangkok-based Institute for HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI), demonstrates one more case of innovation. Other case studies, highlighted on the PGG website, show how health services that are community-centered and client-focused are especially resilient, able to quickly solve problems, sustain effective care, and minimize disruptions from the impact of COVID-19 and protecting lives.
Follow the Protecting Global Gains series on social media at @hivpxresearch, @theglobalfight, @Amref_Worldwide and #ProtectingGlobalGains, and consider amplifying these stories on your own social media. Advocates can call for national and international action to support the Global Fund’s COVID-19 response and for continued investment to end the TB epidemic. Visit www.protectingglobalgains.org to learn more about how to take action.