At a glance
CDC works with partners in Honduras to build sustainable public health capacity, strengthen laboratory systems and surveillance networks, deliver high-quality HIV diagnostic, treatment, and prevention services, and respond swiftly to disease outbreaks at their source, preventing health threats from reaching the U.S.
Strategic focus
Since 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collaborated with Ministries of Health (MOH) to respond to the HIV epidemic in Honduras. CDC supports countries in Central America in achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.
In partnership with governments, civil society, and other partners, CDC prioritizes interventions impacting services for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and people at greater risk of HIV. CDC supports the expansion of evidence-based programs to bridge gaps around HIV prevention, case finding, early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, optimized treatment services, and achievement of viral load suppression to strengthen systems essential for a sustainable HIV response.
Read more about CDC's most recent key activities and accomplishments below.
Building public health capacity
- Introduced the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO) model, an innovative tele-mentoring initiative where experts lead trainings, amplifying the capacity for healthcare providers to deliver best-in-practice care to underserved communities. Through Project ECHO, CDC has created virtual communities of practice in HIV prevention, treatment, and strategic information.
- Launched the Continuous Quality Improvement Training Initiative, where participants learn to apply concepts of quality improvement in the clinical setting to improve HIV services.
- Established the HIV Rapid Test Continuous Quality Improvement Initiative.
- Worked with the MOH to build local capacity to perform evaluations and ensure high-quality standards in the viral load testing process.
Strengthening laboratory systems and networks
- Improved access to HIV testing for undiagnosed PLHIV. This work supported active case-finding in CDC-supported facilities and outreach strategies for people at greater risk of HIV in areas of high HIV prevalence.
- Implemented recent HIV infection surveillance to identify active transmission areas (e.g., PLHIV infected in the past 12 months) to guide prevention and case-finding strategies at the public health level.
- Evaluated the specimen referral, equipment, quality management systems, technology, information, and coverage of viral load networks.
- Supported the HIV National Reference Laboratory to get viral load accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 for medical laboratories.
HIV prevention and treatment
- Implemented an HIV testing and prevention program known by its Spanish acronym, VICITS. VICITS provides tailored HIV testing and prevention services to people at greater risk of HIV. These services include enhanced HIV testing, peer navigation for linkage to treatment, surveillance, and pre-exposure prophylaxis.
- Supported a comprehensive package that included Track and Trace Pre-ART to connect newly diagnosed PLHIV to treatment. This ensured access to ART clinics, rapid ART initiation, diagnosis, and management of HIV advanced disease and opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis, counseling, and follow-up of patients.
- Promoted optimized treatment and introduced differentiated service delivery models such as pharmacy fast-track refills, multi-month prescriptions, and high viral load tracking and management.
- Supported the retention and re-engagement of PLHIV who are not in care or virally suppressed.
By the numbers
HIV
Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)
0.2% (2023)
Estimated HIV Deaths (Age≥15)
Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (Age≥15)
TB
Estimated TB Incidence
31/100,000 (2023)
6.2% (2023)
TB Treatment Success Rate
86% (2022)