HIV and COVID: Navigating Challenges in Dual Care

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted essential health services, including HIV testing, follow-up, and treatment, jeopardizing progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 global target. Limited studies have explored the impact of the pandemic on people living with HIV in Africa, with none, to our knowledge, in Sudan. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to assess the challenges of HIV and COVID dual care in Sudan Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 pediatrics living with HIV interviewed at Omdurman AIDS Care Unit in Sudan in 2021. Results: Contrary to expectations, data collected does not indicate a higher susceptibility of the HIV population to COVID-19 despite prevalent co-morbidities. Conclusions: The threat to the HIV epidemic lies not in direct COVID-19 infection but in its indirect consequences through lockdown measures. While the incidence of COVID-19 infection wasn't higher than the general population, the focus on COVID-19 prevention diverted resources from HIV prevention and treatment.