Central African Republic

Key Results in 2022-2023

Access to HIV information and services was enhanced through intensive community-led outreach.
Vertical transmission prevention services were strengthened through capacity building of healthcare workers, including traditional matrons and midwives.
The new HIV law enacted in 2022 includes provisions to remove barriers to HIV services among adolescents and young people, strengthen rights of people living with HIV and recognize the importance of scaling up services for key populations.
Holistic support services benefited survivors of gender-based violence and sensitization among communities contributed to addressing harmful norms and practices.
Over US$ 72 million was mobilized from the Global Fund to implement HIV programmes during the 2024-2026 grant period.

Joint Programme Results

In 2022-2023, the Central African Republic continued to improve access to HIV information and services among key populations in partnership with the Joint Programme, civil society organizations and communities. More than 250 000 people, including 95 000 adolescents, 9000 members of the internal security force and key populations, including female sex workers and their clients, prisoners and indigenous minorities were sensitized on prevention of HIV and gender-based violence, human rights, and access to services via comprehensive sexuality education, workshops, peer- and community-led sessions, one-stop centres, mobile caravans, and mobile applications (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat). Also, over 4.2 million condoms were distributed among 690 400 people at risk of HIV infection (UNFPA).

The national HIV strategic plan (2023-2027), the national strategy for preventing vertical transmission of HIV and a manual for the comprehensive management of paediatric HIV and the prevention of vertical transmission were developed through technical support from the Joint Programme (WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS Secretariat). A total of 164 healthcare workers including traditional matrons, midwives and birth attendants received training to scale up access and quality of these services, including HIV testing among malnourished children (UNICEF, WFP). Laboratory equipment, including GenXpert machines were also procured improving prevention of vertical transmission and paediatric diagnostics (UNICEF). As a result of the Joint Programme’s support and capacity building, over 5000 pregnant women received prenatal consultations, 569 pregnant women benefited from antenatal care provided by trained matrons, 1000 deliveries were carried out with medical staff, and 300 infants were tested for HIV (UNICEF, UNFPA). 

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

New HIV testing and treatment protocols were developed (WHO), and access to treatment was maintained thanks to the emergency restocking of ART that mitigated the impact of two fire incidents at the central warehouse. In addition, HIV medicines and commodities were procured by the Joint Programme and delivered to 244 and 218 health facilities in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Innovative community-led service delivery models supported retention of people living with HIV in treatment (WFP, UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat). For instance, around 20 000 vulnerable people living with HIV received nutrition education and support (WFP). Besides, the first National Strategic Plan 2022 for the fight against viral hepatitis intends to further support integration of health services, including HIV services.

In October 2022, the country adopted a new HIV law, which strengthens the rights of people living with HIV and recognizes the importance of scaling-up services for key populations. In particular, the new law reduces the age for HIV testing without parental consent to 12 years old, thus improving access to HIV services among adolescents and young people. The law also identifies key populations as vulnerable groups, thereby reinforcing their right to access HIV treatment and services and affording them stronger legal protection (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

A national strategy on the elimination of gender-based violence (UN Women) was developed to further intensify and guide efforts in that area, and over 270 000 people increased their awareness of gender-based violence and gender equality through various campaigns supported by the Joint Programme. Close to 8900 people benefited from sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services, including in humanitarian settings; 16 000 people survivors of violence received psychosocial support; and 455 people accessed legal services through three legal clinics established in 2022, including 257 cases of gender-based violence (UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women). In addition, safe spaces, therapeutic and psychosocial care centres, national coordination mechanisms and early warning systems were established to promote human rights and gender equality and end gender-based violence in the country (UNFPA).

More than US$ 72 million was mobilized from the Global Fund to strengthen the HIV response in 2024-2026. For the first time, a dedicated funding (amounting to around US$ 583 000) for adolescent girls and young women programming in the context of HIV was also mobilized from the Global Fund thanks to intense advocacy and technical support from the Joint Programme (UNAIDS Secretariat).