Johannesburg, South Africa | 26-28 October 2026
The Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) programme of IAS – the International AIDS Society – convened country teams from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia for a workshop to discuss simplification of HIV service delivery.
HIV treatment programmes across eastern and southern Africa are entering a new phase. As programmes mature and resources become increasingly constrained, maintaining high-quality lifelong HIV treatment requires services that are person-centred, clinically appropriate and efficient. DSD provides a framework for reducing unnecessary interactions with the health system for people established on ART, encouraging self care, while ensuring more intensive support is available when needed.
The workshop focused on three concrete areas for national policy change: (1) annual clinical visits for people established on ART facilitated through multi-month scripting; (2) timing of first viral load and frequency of viral load monitoring; and (3) differentiated re-engagement after treatment interruption. Across all three areas, the country teams worked on agreeing on the policy direction, identifying where national guidance needs to change, and defining the immediate steps needed to advance that change.
Resources
Why annual clinical visits for stable people living with HIV are important (IAS) (July 2026)
Read more
Por que razão as consultas clínicas anuais são importantes para as pessoas que vivem com HIV em situação clínica estável (IAS) (Julho de 2026)
Read more
Supporting re-engagement in HIV treatment services. Policy brief (WHO) (July 2024)
Read more
Presentations
Monday, 26 October
Welcome, introductions and workshop objectives (Anna Grimsrud, IAS)
Download
Why simplify HIV service delivery now? (Lynne Wilkinson, IAS)
Download
How the three policy changes fit together (Helen Bygrave, IAS)
Download
Tuesday, 27 October
Annual clinical visits: What does the evidence and guidance tell us (A Grimsrud, IAS)
Download
Earlier first viral load: what does the evidence tell us? (L Wilkinson, IAS)
Download
From earlier viral load to differentiated service delivery: Kenya experience (L Momanyi, NASCOP, Kenya)
Download
How often should viral load be monitored after the first test? (L Wilkinson, IAS)
Download
Why we need to differentiate re-engagement (H Bygrave, IAS)
Download
From workshop to national policy: Eswatini experience (C Nyapokoto, MOH, Eswatini)
Download
Wednesday, 28 October
DSD for chronic disease: A pathway to quality integrated care (H Bygrave, IAS)
Download
