Guatemala

Strategic Focus

Since 2003, the CDC-Central American Regional Office has worked to help strengthen and coordinate strategic information and prevention strategies that target key populations to respond to the HIV epidemic in this region.

CDC builds in-country capacity to design, implement, and evaluate HIV/AIDS-related surveillance systems. CDC also improves broader national health information systems within the region’s Ministry of Health (MoH) to collect, store, analyze, and use high-quality data for the planning of HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs.

Key Activities and Accomplishments

• CDC, in collaboration with other U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) agencies in the region  (the Council of Health Ministers of Central America, the Regional Coordinator Mechanism, UNAIDS, PAHO, Network of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Central America, and National AIDS Program Directors from the region) developed a regional strategy to 1) provide a minimum package of prevention services to all PLHIV, (2) develop and support linkages across services and between facility and community settings, and (3) partner with PLHIV to design, manage, and implement HIV programs that are responsive to their needs.
• CDC has been supporting HIV/STI surveillance and control among sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender persons, and PLHIV in the region since 2006. The HIV/STI Sentinel Surveillance and Control Strategy (VICITS) is an HIV combination prevention strategy that combines HIV testing and counseling among key populations, STI diagnosis and treatment, condom promotion, behavioral change, and an information system to monitor the impact of the project. VICITS data provide the sole key population indicator monitored by the Central American Ministers of Health Commission.  

More Information

• More information and data regarding TB in Guatemala is available online at WHO’s TB Country Profilesexternal icon.
• More information about CDC’s global health work in Guatemala is available online at CDC in Guatemala.