INFO DIGEST: COVID-19 WEBINAR SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LINKAGES

Contributor:
Inad, APCOM

---

APCOM—with support from LINKAGES—is organising a COVID-19 Webinar Series to discuss recent updates on COVID-19. The APCOM webinar series also aims at sharing good practice in delivering HIV services to key and priority populations, despite interruptions caused by imposed mobility restrictions.

We need to do this! Here’s why…

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted population’s mobility on a global scale.

Community-based organisations, together with key and priority populations at country level were severely affected by government lockdowns and curfews in several countries.

Prevention measures taken by the government to prevent further spread of COVID-19— including mobility restrictions—interrupted the delivery of HIV services, such as testing and treatment for key populations. Due to lockdown and social distancing, some CBOs need to postpone their physical operations and encourage staff to not report for work.

The disruption of services also includes difficulties regarding access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) for people living with HIV. Limited information about the COVID-19 virus has caused anxiety for people living with HIV, such as the fear of being at higher risk in acquiring the virus.

Despite limitations and new challenges inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the community-based organisations and community-led service delivery facilities took new approaches to ensure continuity of HIV service delivery. Several innovative solutions were taken by community-led service providers to ensure that the life-saving ART is reaching the PLHIV.

COVID-19 era calls for doing things differently

The COVID-19 era calls for different approaches to ensure continuity of HIV service delivery, even though with government imposed measures by its side.

Therefor the APCOM COVID-19 Webinar Series gears towards providing a space for discussion for community-based organisations and key population networks in the region. Session content focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on HIV service delivery, as well as sharing good practice as a response to the outbreak.

---

COVID-19 Webinar Series for Communities in Asia-Pacific:

---

Webinar 1

14 August 2020
3pm BKK time (ICT, GMT+7)
To check the schedule of the webinar in your timezone, please click here.

Community-Based Organisations and innovative solutions to address interruptions to HIV testing, treatment, and case management:

Learn with us and share your thoughts!
Join us by clicking this registration link.

---

Webinar 2

28 August 2020
3pm BKK time (ICT, GMT+7)
To check the schedule of the webinar in your timezone, please click here.

Identify context-relevant action points for the community-based organisations in responding to COVID-19:

Learn with us and share your thoughts!
Join us by clicking this registration link.

---

Webinar 3

11 September 2020
3pm BKK time (ICT, GMT+7)
To check the schedule of the webinar in your timezone, please click here.

Discuss issues faced by young key population during government lockdowns and identify ways to address them:

Learn with us and share your thoughts!
Join us by clicking this registration link.

---