Global HIV/AIDS

Haiti

HIV/AIDS in Haiti

1.9% Estimated Prevalence
(Age 15–49)
7,100 Estimated Deaths (2009)
N/A Estimated Orphans
33,500 Reported Number of People Receiving ART
60,000 Estimated Number of People Needing ART

SOURCE:
2010 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS/WHO
2011 Haiti PEPFAR annual progress report

HIV/AIDS Assets and Strategic Focus

Strategic Focus
The CDC Haiti office opened in 2002. Since then, CDC has focused its efforts on supporting the Government of Haiti in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS, providing care and treatment (C&T) to those who are already infected with HIV, increasing laboratory and strategic information capacity, and building health care infrastructure.

Strengthening Health Systems
CDC’s contribution includes efforts to: refurbish health facilities; fill critical staffing needs; support pre and in-service training programs, targeting both medical and paramedical personnel; strengthen Ministry of Health (MoH) governance and financial management mechanisms, and establish strategic information systems to inform decision making.

Strengthening Laboratory Systems and Networks
CDC is working with the National Public Health Laboratory (National Lab) to develop multiple testing capacities, including polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of HIV in infants, CD4 testing, and bacteriology and parasitology testing for opportunistic infections in HIV-infected people. CDC also supports the National Lab in ensuring quality in labs throughout Haiti by helping them develop an external quality assurance program and in establishing itself as a major site for laboratory training curriculum development and accreditation.

Notable Accomplishments

Laboratory Capacity

Strengthened the National Lab’s capacity to provide quality diagnostic tests for tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and other reportable diseases via the establishment of a tracking system for collection and transport of biological specimens.

Strategic Information

Created a web-based reporting and surveillance system for HIV, TB, and reproductive health that is used by majority of facilities providing these services.
Created an HIV case notification database, capturing more than 90 percent of reported cases each year.
Established an electronic medical record system, covering 82 percent of C&T sites, and expanded recently on behalf of the MoH for support of primary health care patients.

Quality Assurance

Expanded continuous quality assurance practices to 57 HIV sites to improve the quality of HIV services.
Supported expansion of prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs and improved adherence to the comprehensive package of maternal and child health services for HIV positive mothers and exposed infants.

Service Coverage

CDC’s contribution increased the national capacity to provide highly active antiretroviral therapy to people living with HIV/AIDS; of those eligible for treatment, 55 percent are receiving ART.