Cote d'Ivoire

Key Results in 2022-2023

More than 4.9 million adolescents and young people accessed information on HIV prevention through digital platforms.
HIV testing services at the workplace benefited thousands of workers and will be further scaled up thanks to an evidence-informed national policy.
In 2022, Côte d'Ivoire joined the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children and strengthened services for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV through capacity building initiatives.
An HIV and gender sensitive national social protection strategy was adopted and hundreds of people were empowered to address stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against people living with HIV and key populations.

Joint Programme Results

Cote d’Ivoire continued to expand HIV prevention, testing and treatment services for vulnerable and key populations with special focus on adolescents and young people. The Government revised the national pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) guidelines and adopted the three-step HIV testing algorithms with technical contributions from the Joint Programme (WHO). In addition, 4.9 million adolescents and young people were sensitized on HIV prevention and testing via digital platforms including U-reports, Hello Ado, e-santé and À l'Assaut du sida (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNAIDS Secretariat). These platforms extended access to HIV prevention and testing services to 93 547 young people, including distribution of 54 200 HIV-self testing kits and more than 213 000 condoms (UNICEF).

In addition, digital and in person social and behavioural change communication initiatives and promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in school setting increased awareness among over 300 000 young people. Besides, 834 teachers received capacity building training on these topics benefiting 96 449 students (UNICEF, UNESCO) A total of 3920 young people and 3670 parents also improved their understanding of sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and teenage pregnancies through intergenerational dialogues (UNFPA).

As part of the VCT@Work initiative, 2833 workers in Abidjan and Grand Lahou accessed HIV testing services. Besides, a government-led survey on the working conditions of key populations, mainly people living with disabilities and people living with HIV helped to fill disaggregated data gaps in the labour market through financial and technical assistance from the Joint Programme. The Occupational Health and Safety Directorate also developed a national policy document to further scale up the HIV response in the workplace (ILO).

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

In November 2022, Côte d'Ivoire joined the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children and finalized a costed paediatric plan for 2023-2025, thanks to the advocacy and technical support from the Joint Programme (UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). The Government further adopted the plan for the triple elimination of vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and scaled up integration of HIV into the health system (UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). Around 1500 healthcare providers benefited from capacity building initiatives to improve the quality of and access to prevention of vertical transmission of HIV and paediatric services. Further contributing to this, a newly established telephone appointment reminder system led by community healthcare workers enabled 15 082 pregnant and lactating women to keep their HIV testing appointments. As a result, 99% of the children born to mothers living with HIV received antiretroviral prophylaxis within 72 hours, and 86% of children born to HIV-positive mothers were tested before 2 months (UNICEF). As part of a family outreach testing initiative, 44 019 children and adolescents aged 0-19 years and over 4850 sexual partners were tested for HIV and the people who tested positive were enrolled on treatment, thanks to the Joint Programme’s support. Transportation of blood and other samples from health centres to reference laboratories was also facilitated, increasing timely diagnosis for 29 721 tests and treatment initiation among women and children across the country (UNICEF). In addition, an audit of 60 vertical transmission of HIV cases strengthened evidence for programming (WHO).

In the area of gender equality, 350 000 people, including men and boys improved their literacy on gender inequality, gender-based violence, HIV, female genital mutilation and child marriage through trainings and information campaigns led by the 130 Instituts de Formation et d'Education Féminine (IFEF). In 2022, in partnership with the Youth Employment Agency, 40 female sex workers were also empowered to design and set up small enterprises; and peer educators who were trained on gender-based violence case management referred 35 female sex workers who were survivors of gender-based violence to appropriate care and support services (UN Women).

In collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission and the national network of people living with HIV (RIP+), over 300 people, including human rights officers, government officials, senators, deputies and representatives from networks of people living with HIV and key populations improved their knowledge and capacity to uphold the rights of people living with HIV and key populations and address all forms of stigma and discrimination. Ten regional action plans were also developed to overcome stigma and discrimination in health facilities and communities (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Côte d'Ivoire adopted an HIV and gender sensitive national social protection strategy 2024-2028 to ensure the health and wellbeing of its citizens. In addition, 110 representatives of networks of people living with HIV, key populations and people with disabilities in 12 regions received training on the existing social protection system and produced individual action plans to raise awareness among their peers (UNICEF, UN Women, ILO, UNAIDS Secretariat). 