Almost 600 attendees joined the conference and took part in the discussions around HIV care and prevention, COVID-19 and HIV medicines, key populations programming, and many other important and diverse topics.

ROM’s ‘Men’s Uptake of HIV Testing’ abstract was one of the unique elements during the Interest 2022 International Conference held in Uganda recently. ROM abstract revealed that despite HIV testing being critical in HIV prevention, male utilization of HIV testing and counselling servises is inadequate. For this reason, ROM designed men tailored interventions such as the evening Men’s Clinic to appeal to male in care management.  Operating once a week, provides convenience and privacy; serves men with busy work schedules, self-stigma, missed appointments and reduces waiting time. Community mobilization and campaigns led by male peers supporting the reachout to men.

The abstract pointed at understanding of men’s special needs; targeted community mobilization and adapting of service delivery to identified motivators like the clinic time. Citing outcomes before the Pandemic Curfews, men who tested for HIV increased from 48% (2018-2019) to 53% (2019-2020). A 22% increase in the number of men that tested HIV positive among these is a clear indication of the need to devise more means of seeking them out to test and link to care.