The preliminary results of the survey launched by the Interagency Task Team (IATT) on young key populations (YKPs) in Asia and the Pacific to assess the needs and ability of young key populations in accessing information, medication and other HIV services during COVID-19 show that the pandemic is having a significant negative socio-economic impact on young key populations and young people living with HIV.
46% of the respondents expressed that the restrictive measures put in place to curb the spread of the pandemic are affecting their ability to access food supplies and basic commodities they need to survive. Another 46% reported that these measures led to a loss of income and employment.
In terms of HIV treatment, 51% said they are currently on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. Of those, 30% have a 2-3 month refill of ARV medicines, 29% have only one month dose and 22% have treatment for 3 weeks or less. 17% of the respondents said they do not have ARV refills on hand and 43% of young people on ARV treatment don’t know if their country allows multi-month prescriptions for essential medicines. Finally, more than 64% are concerned about the exposure to COVID-19, while 50% have identified distance to ARV clinics and lockdowns as the main challenges in getting ARVs.
Based on the results of the survey, the IATT on YKP made a set of recommendations to improve access to information, access to HIV and other health services and access to social protection for young key populations and young people living with HIV. These include providing timely and appropriate information on HIV and COVID-19; finding innovative solutions to ensure access to multi-month dispensing of ARVs and other commodities such condoms; and ensure the provision of food and other social protection services and exploring the possibility to provide cash transfer to YKPs who have lost employment or in vulnerable condition.
These recommendations are aimed at informing countries as they develop their contingency plans to ensure continued access to HIV and other services for vulnerable and key populations while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Check out the results of the survey and the recommendations here
