IMPACT Community Base HIV Testing Services (CBHTS)
Sustaining HIV Epidemic Control
Role: Overseeing implementation of the IMPACT CBHTS Project in Blantyre, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu.
Expertise: Community-based HIV testing, men's health initiatives, linkage to care
Project Goal & Objectives
Project Goal:
To strengthen effective measures to address unmet needs for HIV Testing Services (HTS) among men in CDC supported districts towards the attainment of 95-95-95 goals.
Strategic Objectives:
- Implement comprehensive and person-centered HIV prevention services for Priority population (men)
- Implement innovative and targeted community-based HTS (CBHTS) strategies and effective linkage for priority populations to prevention, treatment, and care services
Scope of Work
The IMPACT-CBHTS project targets men in Malawi's major cities:
- Blantyre
- Lilongwe
- Mzuzu
The project provides services in community hotspots where men gather, including:
- Markets
- Drinking joints
- Kabaza (bicycle taxi) ranks
The project deploys a mixture of testing modalities to reach men where they are most comfortable accessing services.
Target Population
- Men aged 20 to 39 years
- Priority populations in urban centers
Project information
- Name: IMPACT CBHTS
- Full Name: Community-Based HIV Testing Services
- Target Population: Men aged 20-39
- Donor: CDC
- Implementation Areas: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu
- Project Duration: April 2023 - September 2027
Project Description
The IMPACT CBHTS project focuses on reaching men with HIV testing services in community settings where they naturally gather. By bringing services to these locations, the project overcomes barriers that prevent men from accessing facility-based testing.
The project's innovative approaches have demonstrated success in identifying HIV-positive men and linking them to life-saving treatment, contributing to Malawi's progress toward the 95-95-95 goals.
Implementation Approach
- Community-based service delivery in high-traffic areas
- Multiple testing modalities (self-testing and conventional)
- Targeted outreach to priority populations
- Strong linkage to care and treatment services
- Monitoring and evaluation to track progress
Recent Achievements (October 2024 - March 2025)
Distributed HIV self-testing kits
26,038
Provided conventional HIV testing to clients
15,426
Identified HIV-positive clients
629
Successfully linked all positive clients to C&T treatment
629