The Beginning Of The End
Singapore has come a long way since the first case of HIV was reported in 1985. Today with the tremendous biomedical advances in HIV prevention and treatment, there is unanimous agreement among HIV advocates, physicians, researchers and others that this is the most opportune time to stop new infections and every effort should be made to do so. Many countries and cities have pledged their support to ending HIV and AIDS and have put in place measures to make this a reality.
This blueprint describes the current issues within each key area, outlines gaps in services and proposes additional efforts and investment needed across community organisations, research and the clinical workforce to end HIV transmission and AIDS in Singapore by 2030
AFAO announces the Australian Blueprint to End HIV by 2020
JULY 2017
World AIDS Day
Idea was considered and put forth by AfA through a Media Release
DEC 2017
First Key Stakeholder Meeting
Meeting was facilitated by Ministry of Health
APRIL 2018
First Community Meeting Convened by AfA Singapore
60 individuals from 30 organisations attended. Section leads and co-leads were nominated.
JUNE 2018
Follow up M&E workshop
Follow up community workshop to establish monitoring and evaluation (M&E) organized by NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health in partnership with AfA
NOV 2018
11th Singapore AIDS Conference
First public preview of the blueprint at the 11th Singapore AIDS Conference through a panel presentation and discussion
DEC 2018
Revisions and Fine Tuning
Working committees met independently to work on their respective pieces. Transgender people, unregulated sex workers and persons who use drugs were reorganised under hidden population. Travellers were subsumed into the two key population.
APR - SEP 2019
Official Launch
The community blueprint to end HIV Transmission and AIDS by 2030 was officially launched on 23rd Nov 2019.
NOV 2019
DONATE
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What Is The Community Blueprint?
Singapore with its small and highly literate population, world class healthcare system and relatively well funded HIV programme is in a good position to join the ranks of cities that can end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
It is to this end that a group of interested persons began initial discussions on drafting a Community Blueprint to End HIV transmission in Singapore. Drawing inspiration from a similar blueprint produced by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations (AFAO); 60 individuals from 30 organisations met in June 2018 leading to an agreement on the development of the community sections of the blueprint.
The blueprint contains 10 thematic areas reflecting the realities of Singapore and each area has been led by a lead focal organization supported by a team representative of individual interests and organizations.
The Getting To Zero Mark
The Getting to Zero mark represents a ground-breaking initiative as 30 different organisations serving a myriad of communities come together for a common goal.
The 5 linked circles represent the Regulators, Funders, Community Based Organizations, Private Sector and Communities/Individuals. As more stakeholders come on board, as well as more initiatives are rolled out, we should also see a wider adoption of this mark. It is a symbol to unify our efforts to join the ranks of cities that are committed to ending the transmission of HIV and AIDS by 2030.
Joining The Ranks Of Fast Track Cities
The Fast Track Cities Initiative was launched in Paris on World AIDS Day in 2014. Today, more than 70 cities around the world have signed the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities Ending AIDS; engaging political leadership, affected communities, civil society, city health officials, clinical and service providers, and other stakeholders to accelerate their local AIDS responses
Cities that have joined this movement have put in place effective partnerships between government, community, and local health departments. Their programmes have clear objectives and measurable targets to ensure HIV services and resources are optimally utilized and directed towards those most in need, have the greatest impact, are the most cost-effective, and have the goal of not only preventing HIV-infected persons from developing AIDS, but also stopping HIV transmission altogether.
Joining The Ranks Of Fast Track Cities
The Fast Track Cities Initiative was launched in Paris on World AIDS Day in 2014. Today, more than 70 cities around the world have signed the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities Ending AIDS; engaging political leadership, affected communities, civil society, city health officials, clinical and service providers, and other stakeholders to accelerate their local AIDS responses
Cities that have joined this movement have put in place effective partnerships between government, community, and local health departments. Their programmes have clear objectives and measurable targets to ensure HIV services and resources are optimally utilized and directed towards those most in need, have the greatest impact, are the most cost-effective, and have the goal of not only preventing HIV-infected persons from developing AIDS, but also stopping HIV transmission altogether.
The Blueprint
Community Blueprint to End HIV & AIDS
Summary Poster
If you are interested to be part of this movement, you can e-mail us, and/or sign up as a volunteer via the link below.
Populations Affected by HIV
Key affected and hidden populations includes: High Risk Heterosexual Males, Men who have Sex with Men, Sex Workers, Transgender people, Persons Who use Drugs and Late Presenters.
Objectives
- To Scale up reach and effectiveness of HIV prevention testing and linkage to treatment efforts for populations at risk of HIV
Proposed Activities
- Expansion of educational and awareness raisin initiatives
- Increase uptake of HIV and other STI screening, condom use, PEP and PrEP
- Develop innovative peer=led and digital interventions that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for each specific population
- Develop and integrate monitoring and evaluation tools to survey attitudes, behaviour and service adoption as part of on-going programming efforts
Impact
The proposed activities will promote early diagnosis and linkage to prevention, testing, treatment and care. A decrease in HIV transmission among those at risk and the pool of untreated HIV infections will reduce health care costs. Further early diagnosis will improve the quality of life for PLHIVs
Tackling HIV Related Stigma and Discrimination
Objectives
- To reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination which are barriers to the uptake of HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services
Proposed Activities
- Measuring quality of life of persons living with HIV to establish baselines
- Mobilization and deepening engagement of persons living with HIV in the policy development, programme design and implementation process
- Reducing stigma in the general population, with special attention to workplaces and healthcare settings through education and awareness activities
- Build sustainable support networks and increase personal resilience of persons living with HIV
Impact
- The proposed activities and investment will reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, thereby benefiting the quality of life for PLHIV. Further, it will facilitate early and timely diagnosis and treatment adherence, which will improve health outcomes of PLHIV in the long term.
The Community Workforce
General Practitioners and Community Groups Providing HIV Services to Affected Populations
Objectives
- To build the capacity of the HIV community-based medical workforce in Singapore and develop policies, guidelines and backbone resources to focus on expanding HIV anonymous testing facilities, education and outreach, expanding access to PrEP and support treatment for PLHIV.
Proposed Activities
- Set up a medical advisory committee to develop policies, guidelines and backbone resources
- Train a pool of medical directors to oversee medical providers, conduct audits and ensure quality of care.
- Increase the number of clinics designated to be HIV anonymous testing sites
- Provide formal and structured training for more GPs to be able to dispense PrEP and co-manage PLHIV with their specialists.
Impact
With higher awareness, knowledge and standardized protocols, for the management of HIV, PEP, PrEP, and other prevention technologies, the healthcare sector will improve adoption of newer technologies, adherence and quality of life of persons living with HIV, as well as reducing the load on the public sector. The initiatives will also help reduce real and perceived stigma at healthcare setting, to improve testing and screening for HIV and STIs.
Normalizing and Scaling up the use of PrEP
Objectives
- To scale-up the adoption of PrEP for persons at high risk of contracting HIV
Proposed Activities
- Expand access to PrEP by training more healthcare professionals
- Improve affordability of PrEP
- De-medicalize the use of PrEP through implementing tighter protocols
Impact
With proper engagement with the government, community pharmacists, nurse clinicians, key populations, and pharmaceutical companies, PrEP can be a powerful tool for reducing HIV transmission rates.
Monitoring & Evaluation of HIV Prevention Programmes
Objectives
- To create capacity to routinely evaluate programmes and services in order to maximise reach and impact and ensure that resources are effectively deployed.
Proposed Activities
- Planning and integrating monitoring and evaluation tools within programme design
- Ensuring funding for monitoring and evaluation programmes
Impact
The community blueprint is a roadmap on what communities delivering HIV programmes and services feel needs to be done to end HIV and AIDS in Singapore. It is envisioned to be a living document to be updated and refreshed as new information and strategies becomes available.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Plenty have changed since, HIV is no longer a terminal illness, and is a manageable chronic illness. Pop over to our knowledge base to learn something new.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteers are one of the most important resources for our organisation. They are the life of all our programmes, the heart and soul of our organisation. Without their dedication and hard work, nothing we do would be possible.
KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS
Anonymous HIV-testing enables early detection and treatment. Financial assistance provides help for those in need. Support groups and counselling help infected and affected individuals cope with HIV infection and close the gap between diagnosis and care.
These videos are part of an on-going year long campaign to feature 30 stories of love, action & change to celebrate AfA’s 30th anniversary. We believe we can end HIV transmission and AIDS in Singapore by 2030. We want to boldly go where Singapore has never been with a community blueprint to end HIV.
As part of our on-going year long 30th anniversary celebration, we will set out to feature 30 stories of love, action & change. We believe we can end HIV transmission and AIDS in Singapore by 2030. We want to boldly go where Singapore has never been with a community blueprint to end HIV.
Dr. Wong Chen Seong, Executive Committee Member of AfA & Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at the newly formed National Centre for Infectious Diseases talks about why it is important for Singapore to have an open discussion about HIV & AIDS.
Pioneer HIV Advocate, Iris Verghese, shares her story about caring for the first case of HIV in Singapore with Calvin Tan, who was recently diagnosed with HIV. Much has changed, yet many remain unchanged.