Immediate Risks and Disruptions

The U.S. decision to freeze all funding for foreign assistance has impacted HIV prevention services in several countries in Latin America, including Peru. This has led to significant disruptions in HIV treatment and PrEP programs for groups of migrants with HIV and migrant key populations. It also reduced community-led HIV prevention efforts, and decreased treatment adherence, counseling, and social support activities for migrants with HIV or at risk. Consequently, in a country that already has an increasing number of new HIV infections, there are increased risks of more new HIV infections, higher mortality rates, and a deterioration in the quality of care for migrants living with HIV.

Current Situation:

• ICAP: This NGO, serving 2,300 migrants with HIV, has resumed antiretroviral therapy (ART) activities after receiving a letter two weeks ago. However, community-based services supporting recruitment and adherence have not resumed and are seeking alternative funding sources.
• IMPACVIH: This community-based organization (CBO) was negotiating US Government grants for Indigenous people living with HIV before the funding freeze. They are now seeking new donors.
• Community-led and peer-led facilities: These have been most impacted, with reduced ability to participate in policy discussions and collect/report data.

Disruptions:

• Distribution of condoms and other prevention commodities: There is sufficient stock for 6-12 months, but access to PrEP services for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender (TG) people has been disrupted.
• Reduced HIV prevention capacity: Availability of counseling and testing for sex workers, MSM, people who inject drugs (PWID), TG people, and prisoners has been affected.
• Migrants with HIV: Migrant key populations are the most affected.