ihri.org ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 ihri.org ANNUAL REPORT 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Foreword 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 2020 has been the first, yet possibly most maintained and even further optimized during memorable year for all of us at IHRI. We are the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we have been grateful to every single challenge faced during our strengthening our team, readying ourselves for transition process, making us strong, resilient, more implementation research on mental health agile, positive, persevering and, most importantly, and chemsex, primarily through capacity-building extremely proud of one another. Nothing can opportunities brought to us by TREAT Asia/amfAR. stop us now from serving our people and our communities. Working without fear, without To strengthen client-centered health services exclusivity, without boundaries, is what we long through capacity-building, IHRI has expanded for. its technical assistance and implementation facilitating roles to Myanmar, Lao PDR, Nepal, New partnerships established during our the Philippines and a few other countries in the most difficult times mean a lot to us. Both the Asia-Pacific through many bilateral and regional determined trust and kind blessings bestowed events supported and/or hosted by USAID EpiC upon our team from old friends around the world project, FHI 360, UNAIDS, WHO, Unitaid, SKPA, are priceless, and we can only ensure you, as a IAS, APTN and APCOM. It is immensely humbling word of thanks, that we will continue to do our for us to be recognized as a regional center of best and not let any of you down. education and research in key areas including PrEP, trans health, same-day ART and chemsex by Along with working to establish our Pribta and our neighboring countries. Tangerine Clinics at the Chamchuri Square Building as Bangkok’s most inclusive sexual health In contrast, things have moved very slowly this hub, IHRI continues to make strides through year with regards to getting key population-led key achievements aligning with our mission health services (KPLHS) to be officially endorsed statement. COVID-19 has only brought forth by the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, an innovation to our clinical and implementation achievement which will allow further movement research studies on pre-exposure prophylaxis towards full domestic financing by the National (PrEP), same-day antiretroviral treatment Health Security Office for KPLHS sustainability. (ART) initiation, differentiated service delivery However, we have been successful in including (DSD), HIV self-testing, point-of-care sexually recommendations on key population-led PrEP transmitted infection (STI) testing, trans health, service and same-day ART service as part of the acute HIV and HIV cure. Telehealth, Xpress next version of Thailand’s National Guidelines services, self-sampling and delivery of drugs via on HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention through courier were quickly and efficiently integrated evidence-based advocacy for public health into study implementation to ensure continuity policy change. of services and to maintain safety and quality of study conduct. Same-day ART telehealth was We wish all of you a lighter and less stressful New selected by the International AIDS Society (IAS) as Year full of success and serenity, and look forward to one great example of how ART initiation can be updating you with more achievements next year! Nittaya Phanuphak, M.D., Ph.D. Executive Director Institute of HIV Research and Innovation 5 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 AFRIMS Armed Forces Research Institute of ACRONYMS Medical Sciences AND AHI Acute HIV infection ABBREVIAIONS amfAR the Foundation for AIDS Research ART antiretroviral therapy ARV antiretroviral ASSIST Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test ATS amphetamine-type stimulants BMA Bangkok Metropolitan Administration CAB LA long-acting cabotegravir CBO community-based organization CETH Center of Excellence in Transgender Health CHIMERA Capacity development for HIV and Mental Health Research in Asia CNS central nervous system CSF cerebrospinal fluid CT Chlamydia trachomatis FTC emtricitabine GARDP Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership HCV Hepatitis C Virus IHRI Institute of HIV Research and Innovation KP key population 6 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 KPLHS Key Population-Led Health Services MHRP US Military HIV Research Program MOPH Ministry of Public Health MRI magnetic resonance imaging MSM men who have sex with men NCD non-communicable diseases NHSO National Health Security Office NG Neisseria gonorrhoeae POC point-of-care PrEP pre-exposure prophylaxis RSAT Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand SDART Same-Day Antiretroviral Therapy STI sexually transmitted infection SWING Service Workers in Group Foundation TDF tenofovir disoproxil fumarate TGW transgender women UHC Universal Health Coverage UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS USAID United States Agency for International Development 7 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 IHRI’S 2020 accomplishments 8 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Almost HIV 106 self-testing 210 10,000 68kits participants key population Thai nationals receiving enrolled to the lay providers in were HPTN 083 study by IHRI 15 provinces delivered certified for PrEP to Thai are transgender HIV health provided by key 15-19 years women services population lay providers old adolescents 53% transgender 3,657 women clients received HIV testing at the Tangerine clients tested Community Health Clinic 4,459 HIV positive at the Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic received 75% same-day treatment of those who tested positive for HIV were of transgender women HIV-positive 91% linked into treatment clients were reached 2,075 clients and care through social media at the 10 hospitals in 5 provinces received same-day treatment 7 community-based organizations received technical assistance from the Tangerine Academy, serving over 1,400 clients HIV-positive 3,201 clients utilized one of seven DSD Nearly models in 4 hospitals in 50 Thailand Partners in Nepal, Myanmar healthcare providers and the Philippines received from 14 different provinces in 655 technical assistance from the Thailand attended the participants with acute HIV infection enrolled Tangerine Academy on Transgender-Competent in the RV254 cohort study, the largest Acute HIV transgender health. Care Training. cohort study in the world. More 2.6% 1,495 than 614 participants clients enrolled to the 40 at the community-based of those Point-of-Care substantial 15 health centers received tested positive HIV viral load and papers were rapid HCV antibody for HCV Point-of-Care STI published in abstracts testing since its infection and testing study in 4 peer reviewed were accepted for implementation in were referred community-based journals in AIDS2020 November 2020 accordingly organizations 2020 9 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Give the community the tools and they will end AIDS in Thailand The first 106 key population lay providers certified for HIV health services in Thailand In response to the national strategy for ending training, practicum, and mentoring, which led to AIDS by 2030 and the ministerial regulation competency assessment and certification. As of endorsed by the Ministry of Public Health August 30, 2020, 106 KP lay providers working (MOPH) in June 2019 to allow trained and at 17 health services in 15 provinces have been certified key population (KP) lay providers to successfully certified. This first class of KP lay legally provide HIV services, the Institute of HIV providers participated in a certification ceremony Research and Innovation (IHRI) and community- presided over by Dr. Praphon Tangsrikeatkul, based organization (CBO) partners, through Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, the United States Agency for International on July 30, 2020. Since the establishment of Development (USAID) Community Partnership ENGAGE in 2018, by the end of 2020, KP lay Project and its technical assistance platform providers trained under the ENGAGE have (ENGAGE), provided capacity building to KP provided HIV services to more than 60,000 clients lay providers in 25 of Thailand’s provinces via across Thailand. 10 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Towards sustainability The success from ENGAGE represents a systematic and other relevant organizations throughout process for capacity building and certification of the country. The National Health Security Office KP lay providers for HIV services. It also provides (NHSO), the main domestic funding source for a model for the development and scale up of the the national health care scheme, is also planning Thailand national certification system for KP lay to use this manual to assess organizations that providers according to the ministerial regulation. request funding/service fee reimbursement from NHSO. These developments may well allow KP In addition, the Manual of HIV Quality Service lay providers and community health centers Standards, a joint effort between ENGAGE, the to be allocated compensation and service fees Department of AIDS and STIs and the Thailand through domestic financing mechanisms, which MOPH – U.S. CDC Collaboration (TUC), was will contribute to the continuous and sustainable endorsed and formally launched on April 13, 2020. development of Key Population-Led Health The manual has since been distributed to CBOs Services (KPLHS). 11 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 PrEP all the way Let them lead PrEP KP-led pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation. As NHSO continues to provision through community-based scale up with the aim for PrEP