Introduction
Despite decades of progress, HIV continues to pose a significant public health challenge, especially in resource-limited settings where infrastructure, funding, healthcare personnel, and medications are often scarce. In these environments, managing HIV is not just about clinical knowledge—it’s about innovation, adaptation, community engagement, and health system strengthening. Delivering effective prevention, testing, treatment, and support services under such constraints demands a deep understanding of the unique epidemiological, social, and economic dynamics at play. That’s why HIV in Resource Limited Settings is essential for today’s healthcare and public health professionals.
This course equips participants with the practical skills, strategies, and context-specific knowledge needed to address the HIV epidemic in low-resource environments. From scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) to designing culturally appropriate prevention programs and overcoming barriers to care, participants will learn how to maximize impact even with limited means.
Because in resource-limited settings, every action must be strategic—and every intervention must count.
Latest Trends in HIV in Resource Limited Settings
The landscape of HIV management in low-resource environments is constantly evolving, shaped by scientific advances, funding shifts, and local innovations. Key trends shaping HIV in Resource Limited Settings include:
1. Universal Test and Treat Strategies
Countries are increasingly adopting “test and treat” policies, offering immediate ART initiation for all people living with HIV regardless of CD4 count.
2. Community-Based Testing and Care Models
Task-shifting to community health workers and mobile testing units helps expand access to diagnosis and treatment in remote or underserved areas.
3. Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) Models
Programs are tailoring HIV care to the needs of different populations (e.g., stable patients, key populations, adolescents) to improve retention and efficiency.
4. Integration of HIV with Primary Healthcare
HIV services are being integrated with maternal and child health, tuberculosis (TB) control, and sexual and reproductive health services for greater system sustainability.
5. Focus on Key and Vulnerable Populations
Special emphasis is being placed on reaching populations disproportionately affected by HIV, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and adolescents.
6. Use of Technology and Digital Innovations
Mobile health (mHealth) tools, SMS reminders, telemedicine, and digital adherence monitoring are enhancing HIV care delivery and patient engagement even in low-resource settings.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for professionals involved in healthcare delivery, public health programming, research, or policy-making focused on HIV, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
This course is ideal for:
- Physicians, nurses, and clinical officers managing HIV care
- Public health program managers and officers
- NGO and CBO (community-based organization) staff
- HIV counselors, case managers, and peer educators
- Global health researchers and implementation scientists
- Government officials and donors funding HIV programs
- Health system strengthening advisors
Whether working at a rural clinic, managing a national HIV program, or designing community interventions, this course ensures participants are ready to address HIV with creativity, resilience, and expertise in challenging environments.
Learning Objectives and Outcome for the Course Sponsor
HIV in Resource Limited Settings builds the knowledge and practical capacity to deliver high-quality, patient-centered, and sustainable HIV services even in the face of resource constraints.
Key Learning Objectives
- Understand the Epidemiology and Drivers of HIV in Low-Resource Settings
- Analyze global and regional HIV trends, risk factors, and vulnerabilities
- Identify social, economic, and structural determinants of HIV transmission
- Apply WHO and National Guidelines for HIV Testing and Treatment
- Implement HIV testing strategies, including provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) and community-based approaches
- Initiate and manage ART according to current guidelines, including “test and treat” policies
- Adapt Differentiated Care Models for Diverse Populations
- Design service delivery models appropriate for stable patients, key populations, and children/adolescents living with HIV
- Implement adherence support, viral load monitoring, and retention strategies
- Integrate HIV Services with Other Health Programs
- Link HIV care with TB, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, and mental health services
- Promote holistic and person-centered care
- Address Stigma, Discrimination, and Gender Inequality
- Develop strategies to reduce stigma within communities, healthcare settings, and institutions
- Promote rights-based approaches to HIV service delivery
- Leverage Community Engagement and Peer Support
- Partner with community-based organizations and peer educators to expand reach and impact
- Empower patients through treatment literacy and advocacy programs
- Innovate with Low-Cost Technologies and mHealth Tools
- Use SMS, mobile apps, and telehealth solutions to enhance adherence, monitoring, and outreach
- Address digital literacy and access challenges
- Design and Manage HIV Programs in Resource-Constrained Settings
- Conduct needs assessments, prioritize interventions, and develop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks
- Manage human resources, supply chains, and funding streams efficiently
Organizational Outcomes
- Expanded Access to HIV Testing, Care, and Support
Institutions can reach underserved populations more effectively. - Improved Clinical Outcomes and Patient Retention
Patients experience better viral suppression rates and long-term health outcomes. - Greater Program Efficiency and Sustainability
Programs achieve more impact with fewer resources through smart design and community partnerships. - Enhanced Rights-Based and Stigma-Free Service Environments
Healthcare settings become safer, more inclusive, and more welcoming for all patients. - Stronger Health Systems Resilient to Future Challenges
Integrated, community-driven HIV responses strengthen overall healthcare delivery capacity.
Course Methodology
This course is highly applied and field-focused, combining real-world case studies, interactive workshops, role-plays, and strategy simulations.
Core training components include:
Epidemiology and Service Delivery Context Labs
- Analyze regional HIV data and map service delivery gaps
- Explore challenges and opportunities unique to resource-limited environments
Clinical Management and Differentiated Care Workshops
- Review ART initiation, monitoring, and switching protocols
- Develop tailored service delivery models for different patient profiles
Community-Based Approaches and Peer Engagement Simulations
- Practice designing community testing, peer-led adherence clubs, and youth-friendly services
- Address stigma and discrimination through participatory training
Health and Digital Innovation Sessions
- Evaluate low-cost digital solutions for adherence support, appointment tracking, and patient education
- Explore how to implement mobile health interventions with minimal infrastructure
Program Management and M&E Planning Labs
- Design simple, effective M&E frameworks for HIV programs
- Prioritize interventions based on resource availability and epidemiological evidence
Capstone HIV Response Project
- Teams develop a comprehensive HIV intervention plan for a hypothetical low-resource setting (e.g., conflict zone, rural district, informal urban settlement)
- Present service delivery models, community strategies, and monitoring systems
Participants receive a digital toolkit including:
- HIV care and treatment algorithm charts
- Differentiated care planning templates
- Community engagement and peer support guides
- mHealth and low-resource innovation checklists
- M&E frameworks for HIV program evaluation
This course can be delivered over 5 days in person, through a modular online program, or as a blended learning package for NGOs, ministries of health, academic institutions, and global health organizations.
Why It Matters in Today’s World
HIV is preventable, treatable, and manageable—but only if services reach everyone, everywhere, including the most marginalized and the most resource-constrained. In these settings, healthcare workers and program managers must innovate, collaborate, and lead with courage and creativity.
HIV in Resource Limited Settings ensures professionals don’t just deliver services—they transform lives, strengthen communities, and build lasting systems of hope and health.
This course prepares you to meet the HIV challenge where it matters most: on the front lines, where every life counts.
