Self-care is how individuals protect their own health, prevent disease, and treat illness, both with and without the support of a healthcare provider. Interventions such as condoms, HIV self-testing, oral PrEP, self-sampling for STIs, and digital solutions have led to a greater configuration of self-led HIV prevention, treatment and care possibilities than ever before. COVID-19 has accelerated and emphasized the need for self-care interventions to meet the needs of people who live with or are at risk of HIV to alleviate an already overburdened healthcare system.

Check out details for our satellite symposium and more self-care events below! Don’t forget to check back often for updates.

HIV, Self-Care and COVID-19: Lessons for the Future of the HIV Response

HOSTED BY SELF-CARE TRAILBLAZER GROUP, CHILDREN'S INVESTMENT FUND FOUND FOUNDATION, POPULATIONS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION, PATH, FHI 360, JHPIEGO AND AIDSFONDS

Date: Thursday 9 July 2020      Time: 9:00-9:45am ET | 3:00-3:45pm  UTC/GMT+2

The accessibility of self-care is dependent on the support of governments and policymakers to ensure there is deliberate integration of self-care into health policy, program, and practice. Through this panel discussion, the speakers will explain how self-care has been an integral component of the healthcare system and integrated in HIV response, reshaping how HIV prevention, treatment and care services are provided.

Moderator:

  • Benjamin Eveslage, FHI 360

Panelists:

  • Manjulaa Narasimhan, World Health Organization
  • Samit Tandon, ACCELERATE Program, Blue Lotus Advisory
  • Mohammed Majam, Wits RHI 

As the COVID-19 pandemic further limits access to facility-based care, meeting the needs of people who live with or are at risk of HIV has never been more important, and it must be done with considerations for protecting health workers and PLHIV as well as limiting the spread of COVID-19. In absence of being able to go to the clinic, new diagnostic, monitoring and digital tools and medicines have led to a greater configuration of self-led HIV prevention, treatment and care possibilities than ever before.

In this dynamic, interactive session, we will explore how different self-care interventions and adaptations have become a critical answer in the health system response to COVID-19 and the potential to transform the HIV response.

Moderator: 

  • Andrea Gunawan, sexual health activist and host of “Real Talks with Andrea” 

Panelists:

  • Davina Canagasabey, PATH
  • Filippo Zimbile, Aidsfonds
  • Anderson Langdon, Barbados Family Planning Association
  • Khanyiswa Kwatsha, Wits RHI 

Make sure not to miss out on any of the other self-care events at the conference! Details below.

THE POWER OF SELF-TESTING – A SPOTLIGHT ON PANDEMIC RESPONSE​

Hosted by OraSure Technologies and Population Services International

Date: 7 July 2020

Time: 1:00-2:00pm ET | 7:00-8:00pm  UTC/GMT+2

Satellite Symposium (60-minute LIVE format)

Join us for this symposium to learn firsthand from thought leaders in the self-testing arena. The goal of the session is to share insights, key learnings and best practices surrounding how to leverage HIV self-testing to achieve testing goals while balancing the new burden on the healthcare system of managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The panel discussion will highlight examples of how self-testing has been implemented successfully and how it can be leveraged to ensure testing continuity during and beyond the current global pandemic.

 

Towards Sustainability and Scalability of HIV Self-Testing: Solutions for Low-and-Middle income countries

Hosted by Unitaid, STAR Initiative and ATLAS Project

Date: July 7, 2020

Time: 1:00-2:00pm ET | 7:00-8:00pm  UTC/GMT+2

Satellite Symposium (60-minute LIVE format)  

Achieving and exceeding the AIDS targets for the Millennium Development Goals was accomplished due to an unprecedented financial investment from the international community. Since 2010 the discourse has shifted to the need for greater sustainability of funding. HIV testing is an essential tool for epidemic control, the entry point to patient management and further prevention of transmission. Ensuring equitable access to diagnosis is paramount. HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) offers such opportunities through a variety of approaches tailored to meet the needs of priority populations. With dwindling investments in HIV programming including HIV testing, models of HIVST distribution that are independent from external investments offer options for longer-term sustainability. The STAR Initiative in Southern Africa and the ATLAS project in West-Africa have gathered evidence through research and implementation for such models that could be replicated in other countries that are scaling up HIVST. 

PRIVATE SECTOR DELIVERY OF SELF-TESTING: EMERGING TRENDS

Hosted by Children's Investment Fund Foundation

Date: 8 July 2020

Time: 2:00-3:00pm ET | 8:00-9:00pm  UTC/GMT+2

Satellite Symposium (60-minute LIVE format)  

The availability of self-testing through private sector channels is highly appealing to men, youth and others who may not be able to conveniently or privately access services in public sector facilities. This session will showcase innovative approaches to expanding access and generating demand for self-testing through private channels including programmes for adolescent girls to access testing for free, media campaigns targeting young men, and public-private partnerships with pharmacies to offer self-testing at low cost. The session will explore what approaches work, what challenges are preventing the private sector from scaling more rapidly, and what new opportunities are on the horizon.

Check back often for additional event details!

OUR COMMITMENTS

The Future of Work

With overarching commitments to flexibility in our work, and greater wellbeing for our employees, we want to ensure PSI is positioned for success with a global and holistic view of talent. Under our new “work from (almost) anywhere,” or “WFAA” philosophy, we are making the necessary investments to be an employer of record in more than half of U.S. states, and consider the U.S. as one single labor market for salary purposes. Globally, we recognize the need to compete for talent everywhere; we maintain a talent center in Nairobi and a mini-hub in Abidjan. PSI also already works with our Dutch-based European partner, PSI Europe, and we’re creating a virtual talent center in the UK.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Meaningful Youth Engagement

PSI is firmly committed to the meaningful engagement of young people in our work. As signatories of the Global Consensus Statement on Meaningful Adolescent & Youth Engagement, PSI affirms that young people have a fundamental right to actively and meaningfully engage in all matters that affect their lives. PSI’s commitments aim to serve and partner with diverse young people from 10-24 years, and we have prioritized ethics and integrity in our approach. Read more about our commitments to the three core principles of respect, justice and Do No Harm in the Commitment to Ethics in Youth-Powered Design. And read more about how we are bringing our words to action in our ICPD+25 commitment, Elevating Youth Voices, Building Youth Skills for Health Design.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Zero Tolerance for Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

PSI works to ensure that its operations and supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking. Read more about this commitment in our policy statement, endorsed by the PSI Board of Directors.

OUR COMMITMENTS

UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT

Since 2017, PSI has been a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, a commitment to align strategies and operations with universal principles of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Read about PSI’s commitment to the UN Global Compact here.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Environmental Sustainability

The health of PSI’s consumers is inextricably linked to the health of our planet. That’s why we’ve joined the Climate Accountability in Development as part of our commitment to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Read about our commitment to environmental sustainability.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity

PSI does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Read our full affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policy here.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Zero Tolerance for Discrimination and Harassment

PSI is committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment that fosters harmonious, productive working relationships and encourages mutual respect among team members. Read our policy against discrimination and harassment here.

PSI is committed to serving all health consumers with respect, and strives for the highest standards of ethical behavior. PSI is dedicated to complying with the letter and spirit of all laws, regulations and contractual obligations to which it is subject, and to ensuring that all funds with which it is entrusted are used to achieve maximum impact on its programs. PSI provides exceptionally strong financial, operational and program management systems to ensure rigorous internal controls are in place to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse and ensure compliance with the highest standards. Essential to this commitment is protecting the safety and well-being of our program consumers, including the most vulnerable, such as women and children. PSI maintains zero tolerance for child abuse, sexual abuse, or exploitative acts or threats by our employees, consultants, volunteers or anyone associated with the delivery of our programs and services, and takes seriously all complaints of misconduct brought to our attention.

OUR FOCUS

Diversity and Inclusion

PSI affirms its commitment to diversity and believes that when people feel respected and included they can be more honest, collaborative and successful. We believe that everyone deserves respect and equal treatment regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, cultural background or religious beliefs. Read our commitment to diversity and inclusion here. Plus, we’ve signed the CREED Pledge for Racial and Ethnic Equity. Learn more.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Gender Equality

PSI affirms gender equality is a universal human right and the achievement of it is essential to PSI’s mission. Read about our commitment to gender equality here.

Cover

01 #PeoplePowered

02 Breaking Taboos

03 Moving Care Closer to Consumers

04 Innovating on Investments

ICFP Q&A:
Let's Talk About Sex

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