Ecuador

The Joint Team in Ecuador focussed its support in scaling up access to HIV services among young people and key populations, particularly by reinforcing community-based HIV responses. For instance, community surveillance networks were strengthened in the four provinces of the Northern Border with Colombia—Carchi, Esmeraldas, Imbabura and Sucumbíos while a youth-led working group was created in Quito-Pichincha, establishing coordination spaces for a comprehensive and intersectoral HIV response. As a result, a total of 2332 people, including people living with HIV were sensitized on accessing information, HIV and health services, social protection programmes and human rights. A community school for the training of trainers on health, including HIV and human rights was also established to educate young people residing in border and cross-border areas. The first cohort of 20 trained young people replicated local workshops in urban and hard-to-reach areas and reached 6625 young people with information on HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health and human rights (UNFPA). Additionally, 150 young people and migrants in the Northern Boarder and Quito-Pichincha received information and referrals to HIV and other health services through community-based workshops, thanks to a collaboration with MoVIHlízate, the youth-led movement of young people living with or affected by HIV (UNHCR, UNFPA).

In 2022, Quito and Guayaquil cities were offering community-led pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services and 200 people from key populations accessed these services. A total of 96 healthcare providers from Guayaquil, Machala, Manta and Quito were also trained on the delivery of PrEP service and progress has been made to rollout pilot PrEP services in Machala and Manta cities (WHO). Additionally, 15 representatives of the Ministry of Health and civil society organizations improved their knowledge of PrEP, HIV self-testing, community-led Monkey Pox prevention and strategic information (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).