7:45 - 8:30am [CET]
The context of HIV testing is changing in eastern and southern Africa as countries approach the 95-95-95 targets. Against this background, HIV testing is evolving and needs to reach clients across the prevention and treatment cascade. HIV self-testing (HIVST), a critical component and tool in the future of HIV testing, is the focus of an ICASA 2023 session, organized by IAS – the International AIDS Society – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ICAP at Columbia University. Presenters and panellists will discuss experiences of HIVST to support reaching untested populations within routine and specialized testing approaches and uptake and sustained use of HIV prevention services towards scaling up coverage and quality of HIVST in the region.