Rapid Scale-up of an Antiretroviral Therapy Program Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — Nine States, Nigeria, March 31, 2019–September 30, 2020
Emilio Dirlikov, Ibrahim Jahun, Solomon Odafe, Obinna Ogbanufe, Chibuzor Onyenuobi, Ifunanya Mgbakor, Timothy Efuntoye, Nguhemen Tingir, Uzoma Ene, Ayodele Fagbemi, Chidozie Meribe, Orji Bassey, Adeola Ayo, Omodele Johnson Fagbamigbe, Joy Amafah, Moyosola Bamıdele, Matthias Alagi, Ademola Oladipo, Ibrahim Dalhatu, McPaul Okoye, Dennis Onotu, Jerry Gwamna, William Abrams, Deborah A. Conner, Anuli Nwaohiri, Deborah Carpenter, Ugonna C. Ijeoma, Sarita Shah, Laura Tison, Minesh Shah, Helen Chun, Michelle Williams-Sherlock, Andrew T. Boyd, Pamela Bachanas, Akudo Ikpeazu, Gambo Aliyu, Tedd V. Ellerbrock, Mahesh Swaminathan, CDC Nigeria ART Surge Team, CDC Nigeria ART Surge Team, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Mark Giambrone, Andrew Abutu, Ian E. Fellows, Lisa A. Murie, David A. Miller, Obinna Nnadozie, Ray W. Shiraishi, Viva Combs Thorsen, O Adebayo, Patrick Dakum, Charles Mensah, Fadimatu Mishara, Olupitan Olayemi Kinmilola, Benjamin Pillatar, Chukwuemeka Okolo, Tarfa Verinumbe, Yakubu Sambo, Fidelis Yillong, Oluwaseun Abe, Olaitan Achor, Musa Bashir, Stephen Bature, Emily Madina, Bolanle Oyedelun, Fabian Bassey, Amana Effiong, Alimigbe Francis, Dorcas T. Magbadelo, Charles Okolie, John Oko, Olanrewaju Olayiwola, Eugene Onu, Chukwudi Onwuchekwa, Mikhail Obaje, Prosper Okwonkwo, Thomas Usha, Evans Ejimkaraonye, Chiagozie Achebe, Sylvia Adebajo, Johnson Alonge, Moses Asiozi, Nelson Attah, Nnabundo Musei, Prosper Onyekachi, Kristen A. Stafford
Abstract
In 2018, an estimated 1.8 million persons living in Nigeria had HIV infection (1.3% of the total population), including 1.1 million (64%) who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) (1). Effective ART reduces morbidity and mortality rates among persons with HIV infection and prevents HIV transmission once viral load is suppressed to undetectable levels (2,3). In April 2019, through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),* CDC launched an 18-month ART Surge program in nine Nigerian states to rapidly increase the number of persons with HIV infection receiving ART. CDC analyzed programmatic data gathered during March 31, 2019-September 30, 2020, to describe the ART Surge program's progress on case finding, ART initiation, patient retention, and ART Surge program growth. Overall, the weekly number of newly identified persons with HIV infection who initiated ART increased approximately eightfold, from 587 (week ending May 4, 2019) to 5,329 (week ending September 26, 2020). The ART Surge program resulted in 208,202 more HIV-infected persons receiving PEPFAR-supported ART despite the COVID-19 pandemic (97,387 more persons during March 31, 2019-March 31, 2020 and an additional 110,815 persons during April 2020-September 2020). Comprehensive, data-guided, locally adapted interventions and the use of incident command structures can help increase the number of persons with HIV infection who receive ART, reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality as well as decreasing HIV transmission.