The Tests that Save Lives campaign in Panama, launched within the framework of the Global ProTest HIV initiative, aims to reduce the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by offering free HIV testing and counselling every June. When the campaign was rolled out in June 2015, more than 13 100 people were tested for free across the country. That number increased to more than 16 200 in 2016.
Health fairs are held and mobile clinics tour as part of the campaign, which is led by the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, the Office of the First Lady, the Inter-Governmental Network for HIV Prevention, the private sector and civil society.
Owing to the campaign’s success, the government decided in 2015 to make HIV testing free for adolescents and members of key populations in all public health-care facilities. From 2018, HIV testing will be free for everyone in Panama.
First Lady Lorena Castillo de Varela’s Love on Wheels is a complementary initiative offering HIV testing and integrated health care through mobile clinics to women living in marginalized and rural communities.
Panama adopted the Fast-Track Targets in 2015, which, if met by 2020, will allow the world to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
“Testing is the first step in accessing services to respond to HIV. My commitment is to make the necessary efforts to open this door to HIV care to all people, without discrimination.”
Lorena Castillo de Varela First Lady of Panama and UNAIDS Special Ambassador for AIDS in Latin America
“Panama has made important achievements in a short time in terms of access to HIV testing. This shows that with political commitment, the end of the AIDS epidemic can be reached by 2030.”
César Antonio Núñez UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
“Increasing the testing coverage has been a challenge in terms of advocacy, coordination and implementation, but it is certainly one of the greatest achievements of the national response that puts us closer to reverting the course of the epidemic in Panama.”
Aurelio Núñez Director of the National AIDS Programme
