Thank you for your interest in our abstracts. We appreciate your curiosity and engagement with our work. Below you will find links to download the PDF files you are interested in. Each link will take you to a detailed document that provides comprehensive information on the respective study. We hope you find the material insightful and useful.
Thank you for your interest in our summaries. We appreciate your curiosity and commitment to our work. Below, you will find links to download the materials that interest you as PDF files. Each link will take you to a detailed document that provides comprehensive information about the respective study. We hope you find the material informative and useful.
Healthcare Challenges and Interventions in Pre-Trial Detention Centers in Venezuela
In Venezuela, pretrial detention centers—originally intended for brief holding periods—often detain individuals far beyond the standard 48 hours, with some awaiting trial for up to 10 years. This prolonged detention, in facilities not designed for long-term occupancy, leads to severe overcrowding and deteriorating physical conditions for detainees. From January 2021 to October 2023, healthcare was provided to 3,975 detainees in 60 such centers, with a focus on providing healthcare to detainees—who were the primary population of interest—without considering other high-risk groups.
Universal HIV testing strategies in emergency departments in Venezuela
HIV diagnosis is a critical public health priority and a vital step in the continuum of care. Early HIV diagnosis remains a challenge in Venezuela, where individuals unaware of their infection cannot benefit from antiretroviral therapy (ART), leading to significantly increased morbidity and mortality, as well as high viral loads that increase the likelihood of transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNAIDS, and WHO recommend routine, non-selective HIV screening in most medical settings, including emergency departments, advocating for the use of rapid HIV tests in specific contexts as a useful strategy to facilitate and enhance early diagnosis of the infection. Institutional barriers can hinder efforts to increase HIV testing among the most vulnerable populations. Therefore, offering this tool free of charge, on a voluntary and confidential basis, to all individuals admitted to hospital emergency departments can greatly aid in identifying new cases and linking them to the national public health system for treatment initiation.
Efficacy of the TLD regimen in viral suppression among HIV patients in Venezuela: the “Plan Maestro” initiative.
The universal free distribution of antiretrovirals (ARVs) has long been a public policy in Venezuela, with most ARVs procured through the PAHO/WHO Strategic Fund. However, the economic crisis that began in 2017 led to significant challenges in ARV procurement, culminating in a near-total shortage of ARVs by 2018. This shortage severely impacted the health outcomes of people living with HIV, increasing the risk of HIV transmission and AIDS-related complications.
To address this crisis, the“Plan Maestro para el fortalecimiento de la respuesta al VIH, la tuberculosis y la malaria desde una perspectiva de salud pública”(Master Plan for Strengthening the Response to HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria from a Public Health Perspective), known as the “Plan Maestro,” was developed in June 2018. This plan secured resources from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM), entirely allocated for ARV procurement and social monitoring. The Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir (TLD) formulation was acquired to meet at least 85% of the needs of the active population registered with the National AIDS Program (PNSIDA/ITS) in 2019. This initiative marked a significant step toward stabilizing HIV treatment and ensuring continuous access to comprehensive healthcare for affected individuals.