Facility-based partner notification and index partner services

In Cameroon, the highest prevalence of HIV is among men who have sex with men, sex workers, pregnant women and men in the military. The national programme has focused on HIV testing in health facilities and index testing. To enhance the efficiency of HIV testing services, there has been an increased focus on reaching partners of PLHIV diagnosed in facility settings.

Partner HIV testing services were routinely implemented at health facilities. Following initial diagnosis, trained health workers followed up and offered to assist with confidentially contacting partners and/or coming to their household to offer HIV testing services. Through counselling and discussion, PLHIV voluntarily provide contact information for partners they think should be contacted and how to contact them, whether by client referral, contract referral or provider referral. Trained health workers then followed up with these partners by telephone and/or a home visit to offer HIV testing and to schedule a time for them to come to the facility.

Between January and June 2016, 1,407 people with HIV were diagnosed and 1,884 partners who may have been exposed to HIV were identified. In total, 94% (1,774/1,884) of partners were notified and of those notified, 93% (1,655/1,774) received HIV testing. Of those who received HIV testing, 32% (315) of adults and 6% (40) of children were HIV positive and, of those diagnosed, 93% linked to ART.