Investing in Communities: Annual Review 2016

2016 was a year of consolidating, catalyzing and achieving incredible results, for the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC). We pursued our strategic objectives: to mobilize demand for optimal HIV treatment; we supported civil society to challenge unfair barriers that limit access to essential HIV drugs; and we laid the ground for scaled up community monitoring of HIV treatment services. Our approach, of educating communities, and supporting community-based research and advocacy, informs all our programs.

In 2016, we began new projects to educate communities and mobilize them to demand routine viral load testing, as part of our Be Healthy – Know Your Viral Load campaign. Through 13 regional and national workshops we strengthened the capacity of 270 activists from 36 countries. Training included the science of HIV, HIV treatment monitoring and advocacy. National partners went on to sensitize communities on the need for routine viral load testing, and lobby policy makers to adopt and implement the latest WHO guidelines on treatment monitoring.