Positive Hotline Project for People Living with HIV-3

Duration: 1 year / December 2022 – December 2023

Budget: 364,800 TRY

Sponsor: Gilead Sciences

Purpose and Target and Method:

The project, which operated from December 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023, aimed to provide access to information and support from HIV specialist peers to people living with HIV and their relatives, both from all provinces of Turkey and abroad.

The project focused not only on individuals living with HIV but also on those who had been in suspected contact. In this context, people who were unaware of their HIV status were also directed to testing and, subsequently, treatment. The project aimed to provide services to an average of 120 people each month, including peer counseling for individuals living with HIV and information for those who had been in risky contact.

The hotline, which can be answered in Turkish, English, and French by HIV specialist peer counselors, operates from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM on weekdays.

Outputs:

During the 12-month period from December 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023:

• 1,281 consultations with previous diagnoses → 1,837 meetings

• 769 consultations with new diagnoses → 1,378 meetings

• 87 individuals awaiting verification → 1,222 meetings

• 1,332 people received counseling for risky contact and testing → More than 1,453 meetings

From December 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023, a total of 3,469 people received support and counseling services 5,890 times.

Turkish Project Report: https://tls.tc/JHybH