Safeguarding equitable HIV service delivery at the health facility-level in a resource-limited setting during the pandemic

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Rosario Jessica Tactacan-Abrenica, Dennis Gregg Almonte, Kristal An Agrupis, Greco Mark Malijan, Shuichi Suzuki, Ralph dela Cruz, Rich King Valdez, Lalaine Arcangel, Koya Ariyoshi, Chris Smith
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2022
• Subjects: HIV; PLHIV; COVID-19; LMIC; Resource-limited setting; Health service delivery; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-022-00441-4; https://doaj.org/article/31e9726fe82148f0a16173119c2e41f8

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on delivering essential health services, including HIV service delivery. Among the challenges encountered and addressed by the HIV and AIDS Department of the San Lazaro Hospital were ensuring continued access to antiretroviral therapy and ensuring continuity of client education and empowerment. Two years into the pandemic, challenges still ensue, such as protecting health care providers from COVID-19 and regular clinical monitoring of clients. This highlights the importance of urgent action to strengthen the resilience of health systems at all its levels, not only to respond to sudden disturbances, but also to transform and evolve to be able to better face future pandemics.