Overview of HTS: The Road Map to Achieving and Sustaining the USAID Target for 2030

The burden of HIV around the world especially in developing countries in West Africa is heavy, with a prevalence of 1.4% in Nigeria. The degree of new HIV infection among people in Nigeria should be exponential since the NAIIS survey that was conducted in 2018. This is one of the reason USAID intensified the 95:95:95 target to ensure that 95% of the population knows their status by screening for HIV, 95% of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) are linked to treatment and remain on treatment while maintaining 95% viral suppression. To achieve this target, HTS, which covers the first 95% target needs to be understood because, every other 95 goal is dependent on it. Apart from initiation of treatment for HIV positive clients after testing, HTS also have other outcome for clients whose HIV result is negative which can be categorized as preventive services, which is usually offered at the point of care. Healthcare workers and other relevant stakeholders in the HIV eco space needs a full grasp of this important first 95 to ensure proper viral load suppression and reduction of new infections. Hence, this synoptic review focuses on an overview of HTS as the road map to achieve and sustain the USAID goal for 2030 which include stakeholder collaboration, community engagement and outreaches, training of community testers, Index Case Testing, health promotion, embrace research breakthroughs, among others which are elicited in this paper.