10:10 – 10:30 AM: Person-Centered Care: Why Supporting and Empowering Providers Works Better than Monitoring and Enforcement.   

Moderator: Shawn Malone, PSI

Painelistas:

• Abongile Jim, PSI
• Letitia Rambally Greener, PSI
• Thulani Grenville-Grey, Matchboxology

Person-centred care models often focus on monitoring providers and holding them accountable for undesirable behaviours. Providers have indicated that this approach misdiagnoses the problem, leading to superficial compliance rather than fostering deep and lasting change. In this session, we will explore why focusing on support and empowerment might be more effective. 

1:10 – 1:30 PM: From Insights to Impact: Improving PrEP Uptake Among FSW with Human-Centered Design in Ethiopia

Moderator: Mersha Alene, PSI Ethiopia

Panelist: 

• Shakir Jemal, PSI Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, PSI’s MULU Key Populations project piloted community-based drop-in centres (DICs) for PrEP distribution. Despite this new access point, initial PrEP uptake remained low among female sex workers. To address this, the project employed a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach, working directly with female sex workers to identify barriers to PrEP uptake. Two key insights surgiu: the need for a “hub and spoke model of delivery” to enable community-level PrEP initiations with follow-up at DICs, and the importance of de-stigmatizing PrEP by modifying the stickers on PrEP drug bottles to differentiate them from ART bottles. We present data on PrEP uptake following these HCD interventions.

2:40 – 3:00 PM: Increasing Healthcare Quality and Efficiency with Digital Solutions in Zimbabwe       

Moderator: Brian Maponga, PSI

Painelistas:

• Sinokuthemba Xaba, Ministry of Health and Child Care Zimbabwe
• Jabulani Mavudze, Population Solutions for Health
• Olivia Chatsama, Population Solutions for Health

Zimbabwe has experienced a significant brain drain of healthcare workers to other countries, which has compromised the delivery of essential health services. Elective services such as Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) have been particularly affected, as they require specialized training for clinicians to ensure quality procedures. The Ministry of Health’s VMMC operational plan proposes that at least 60% of health facilities have certified service providers, but the average coverage remains below 30%. With limited resources, expanding VMMC service delivery coverage is challenging. In response, PSI and PSH supported the MOHCC by developing and deploying digital solutions to train health providers and virtually track clients, reducing the burden on the existing service providers.

10:10 – 10:30 AM: Intersecting Identities: Living with HIV and Navigating Diverse Sexual Orientations           

Moderator: Lungile Zakwe, PSI

Painelistas:

• Letitia Rambally Greener, PSI
• Abongile Jim, PSI
• The Aurum Institute

This session will explore the nuanced experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM), who live with dual statuses—navigating both HIV and diverse sexual orientations. The interplay between societal stigma, personal identity, and healthcare access is complex. PSI’s Yim ‘Lo project is shedding light on these intersections, we aim to foster understanding, promote inclusivity, and support individuals to embrace their authentic selves while navigating healthcare systems and societal perceptions. 

1:10 – 1:30 PM: The B-OK Bead Bottles: A Simple Tool for Talking with Clients about Viral Suppression and U=U

Moderator: Shawn Malone, PSI

Painelistas:

• Thulani Grenville-Grey, Matchboxology
• Letitia Rambally Greener, PSI

U=U can significantly increase confidence, motivation, and resilience among people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, clear communication is crucial, as clients can find the messaging too ‘medicalized,’ and providers often struggle to connect effectively with their clients. In this session, we will discuss our experience with the B-OK bead bottles—a visual and tactile tool designed to simplify conversations about U=U. This innovative tool promotes client engagement and agency, making the concept of U=U more accessible and understandable.

2:40 – 3:00 PM: Why Aren’t We Reaching More Heterosexual Men with PrEP?              

Moderador: Lungile Zakwe, PSI

Painelistas:

• Shawn Malone, PSI 
• Letitia Rambally Greener, PSI

Traditionally, PrEP demand creation has targeted sex workers, men who have sex with men, and adolescent girls and young women. However, our PrEP pilot with 500 heterosexual men in Johannesburg revealed strong indications that this group could be a strategic target population for PrEP In this session, we will explore the findings and their implications for PrEP strategies and programs. 

10:10 – 10:30 AM: Hepatitis Self-Testing – Filling the Gaps in the Path Towards Viral Hepatitis Elimination

Moderator: Karin Hatzold, PSI

Painelistas:

• Victor Abiola Adepoju, Jhpiego
• Bao Vu, PATH
• Mohammed Majam, Ezintsha
• Hedgar Plessy Mboussam, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social

It is estimated that 58 million people have chronic Hepatitis C, with only 26% aware of their status and just one-quarter of those diagnosed receiving treatment. Self-testing for Hepatitis C offers a new avenue for individuals to learn their status and access treatment. In this session, STAR researchers and implementers will share findings on the feasibility, acceptability, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of Hepatitis C self-testing, and discuss how these findings are being translated into policy and guidance at the country level. 

1:10 – 1:30 PM: COVID-19 Self-Testing: Applying Lessons for HIVST to COVID-19 Self-Testing Uptake in Low-and-Middle Income Settings

Moderator: Yasmin Dunkley, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Painelistas:

• Nicola Desmond, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• Wezzie Stephanie Lora, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust-Clinical Research Programme
• Liz Corbett, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Euphemia Sibanda, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research

The STAR consortium pioneered HIV self-testing research, demonstrating scalable delivery models that effectively reach underserved populations and increase testing uptake without causing social harm. Insights from HIV self-testing were then used to inform global policy guidelines for Hepatitis C self-testing and future self-testing guidelines for various STIs. In this session, researchers from the 3ACP project (Africa, America, and Asia Preparedness for COVID-19) will discuss their efforts to address chronic shortages in COVID-19 testing across LMICs. They will also explore how lessons from HIV self-testing apply to COVID-19 self-testing by investigating social, epidemiological, and health system factors that influence uptake. This discussion will highlight the relevance of social science approaches in expanding self-testing to other diseases.

2:40 – 3:00 PM: Healthy Men Connect: A Digital Demand Creation Platform Co-Created with Diverse MSM

Moderator: Lungile Zakwe, PSI

Painelistas:

• Letitia Rambally Greener, PSI
• Abongile Jim, PSI

This session will share lessons learned from “Healthy Men,” a demand creation platform collaboratively developed with men who have sex with men (MSM), including those who may not disclose their sexual orientation or prefer to remain non-identifying. This innovative digital intervention focuses on promoting health and well-being among this diverse community through tailored resources and support. By prioritizing inclusivity and respecting individual preferences, “Healthy Men” empowers MSM to take control of their health while prioritizing discretion and sensitivity.