 HIV in Europe November 2009, Stockholm The Momentum ensued since 2007 – The Need for Political Action? HIV Portugal - Follow-up and community priorities Luís Mendão - GAT/EATG/ HIV Portugal Steering Committee 1

HIV Portugal 2009 preliminary comments  Portuguese conference community-driven  Linked with priorities and objectives of HIV Europe but part of the Portuguese community strategy  Main aims: human rights and evidence-based HIV policies and programmes  Multi-stakeholder participation and involvement  Political high-level leadership: All-Party Group on HIV/AIDS was established 2

HIV Portugal 2009 March

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Conference commitments  Conference commitments subscribed by the National Aids Commission  Free HIV testing is granted from now on, as part of a set of measures to ensure the universal right to prevention, care and treatment, in respect of human rights, test only being performed on voluntary bases and with counseling.  HIV testing is not, in itself and for itself, a prevention measure. It must be performed taking all possible advantage from the promotion of effective prevention measures and risk reduction. 8

 Portuguese guidelines to be published in 2009 for HIV detection, screening and diagnosis, in order to harmonize the best scientific knowledge available with national specific characteristics.  NAC commits to nominate a Council of Experts, incl. primary HCP, Civil Society and PLWHA, to define mandatory standards to perform testing in Community Healthcare Units, anonymous HIV Testing centers and informal out-reach health structures. 9 Conference commitments

 Till 2012, to reduce to 40% the percentage of people living with HIV with a cell count below 350 CD4 at diagnosis  NAC commits to follow-up and publishing of the number of tests carried on and the conditions provided for that purpose, on an annual basis 10 Conference commitments Lisbon, 28 th of March, 2009

11  Portugal needs to revise the legislation to allow testing and counselling in informal settings  Guidelines for indicator diseases and public health system provider initiated voluntary testing must be approved and implemented  A check-point for MSM has been approved to start Where we are today?

12 Thank you! Any questions?