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HIV prevention, support, treatment standards

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Key points
  • HIV infection prevention and the continuation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) represent essential emergency measure and directly contribute to the reduction of morbi-mortality.
  • Emphasis the importance of standard precautions (frequent hand washing, wearing gloves and protective clothing, safe handling of sharp objects, disposal of waste materials, instrument processing, and cleaning up spills).
  • Ensure safe blood supply and rational use to prevent the transmission of HIV and other transfusion-transmissible infections, such as hepatitis B and C and syphilis.
  • Antiretrovirals should be continued for people who were enrolled in a program prior to the emergency, including women who were enrolled in PMTCT of HIV and syphilis programs.
  • PEP should be provided to survivors of sexual violence and occupational exposure. An HIV test is not required (neither for the source patient or the health worker) before prescribing PEP, and no one should be forcibly tested.
  • Lubricated male condoms and, where applicable, female condoms should be available in accessible and private areas in health facilities and the community and promoted from the earliest days of a humanitarian response.

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