Abstract:
Introduction: Achieving universal access to HIV services requires a mixture of strategies to increase
opportunities for people to know their HIV status. APIN in conjunction with civil society organization and
with funding support from Global Fund (GF) and National Agency for AIDS Control (NACA) embarked
on community HTC outreach campaigns in Lagos, Plateau and Oyo States of Nigeria. Community entry,
advocacy and mobilization were key start up strategies.
Methods/Approach and Result: Partnership with Civil Society Organizations with strong presence
leadership roles within the communities was the main approach to a community based approach to
increasing uptake of HTC services in the three (3) states of Nigeria where AIDS Prevention Initiative in
Nigeria operated. Eighteen (18) LGAs, 189 communities and 154 ANC locations across three states
benefited from the outreaches. 54,841(1.2% positivity rates) people among the general population and
36,061 (0.19% positivity rates) pregnant women were provided with HCT services over three weeks.
Conclusion: Alternative approaches to facility based HTC are critical to achieving universal access to
HTC. Community based approach to HTC that relies on strong partnerships and collaboration with
organizations that have commitments and leadership roles in the communities can improve uptake of
services. It is a veritable approach for expanding access, availability and coverage of HTC services.
