What is the ProTEST program?

Community-based program offering rapid, free, and anonymous HIV testing

The problem

Knowing your HIV status early today has only advantages, even if it is positive: it has advantages for one's health, but also for one's sexual activity, because in case of positive test results the therapy allows to practically eliminate the infectivity. Unfortunately, however, Several factors still limit access to the test: logistical factors (such as timetables), mistrust and fear in those who do it, but also the cultural approach of the staff involved in the test. To overcome this problem, Arcigay has been offering HIV testing directly in some Italian cities since 2015 through the ProTEST program, anonymously, quickly and free of charge. in a community-based mode. Between 2015 and 2016 Arcigay offered over 2952 rapid tests and continues to do so until 2017 in 10 cities. However, since the tests are paid for by Arcigay thanks to private funding, not all cities have been able to consolidate the service to ensure continuity, as other cities are waiting for resources to start it. Currently, only the services offered in the cities of Milan, Palermo, and Catania are covered by local resources. [Read more about the project's rationale].

The goal

The goal of the program is to highlight the hidden burden of undiagnosed HIV infections. Specific objective: is to ensure the provision of rapid HIV tests fourth generation to at least 6,000 people, in 9 cities currently not covered by local resources.

The planned actions

Offer HIV testing

• fourth generation (antibody and antigen),
• fast (20 minutes) and free,
• with peer volunteers (gay and/or people with HIV) trained for pre- and post-test counseling,
• with volunteer and community-based healthcare workers,
• at association offices and gay meeting places,
• in at least 9 cities currently not covered by local resources (Naples, Rome, Turin, Verona, Padua, Modena, Perugia, Lecce, Siena).

The intermediate objectives

1. Purchase and offer of 2000 HIV tests in 3 cities currently not covered by local resources
2. Purchase and offer of 2000 HIV tests in 3 other cities
3. Purchase and offer of 2000 HIV tests in 3 other cities

Support activities

Arcigay is also working to ensure that:

• this offer becomes structurally complementary, with agreements and conventions with the local health authorities, to the standard one of local health services in the cities where the program is implemented: in some cities this was partially possible thanks to the ProTEST project (Milan, Palermo, Catania);
• this offer further articulate with a broader approach to sexual health (an approach that rarely exists in Italy), going beyond the HIV test, towards the offer of all tests for Sexually Transmitted Infections and also the possibility of prescribing PrEP;
• the’'community-based approach should be permanently included in health policy forecasts by the Ministry of Health. Arcigay's advocacy work with the L and M sections of the Ministry of Health's Technical-Health Committee has enabled the association to co-draft Italy's first National HIV and AIDS Plan (PNAIDS), which was approved by the National Health Council and submitted to the State-Regions Conference. For the first time, community-based testing has been identified as an important strategy to support to increase access to testing.
• the community-based approach should be permanently included in the regulatory provisions, in order to also allow non-healthcare workers, but appropriately trained, to carry out HIV testing at community-based services, and to also allow minors under 18 to take HIV testing without parental consent.