NISCHIT Plus (HIV) provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen HIV service delivery, advance differentiated care, and enhance treatment quality for people living with HIV (PLHIV) across all districts of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS).

The project focuses on improving retention in care, scaling viral load (VL) testing, integrating TB, Hepatitis, and NCD services, and optimizing data systems for real-time program decisions. Through strong collaboration with APSACS, the initiative brings together evidence-based approaches, digital tools, and community-led strategies to deliver person-centered, equitable, and sustainable HIV services.

1. Demonstrate Differentiated Service Delivery Models (DSDM) of Care with Focus on Key and Priority Populations including Children, Adolescents, and Ageing Population

We implement several DSDMs to ensure person-centered HIV care reaches those who need it most — including key populations, children, adolescents. Models include: Family-Centric Care (FCC), which synchronizes visits and ART refills for entire families to strengthen retention and continuity; Fixed-Day Outreach Camps at decentralized and tribal sites, delivering clinical services including ART, VL/CD4 testing, TB and Hepatitis screening, and vaccination to those in hard-to-reach areas; PHC-Based ART Dispensation (NHM Integration), bringing ART refills to Primary Health Centres to reduce travel burden and improve access; and Community ART Refill Groups for Children (CARGs), where adolescents and children self-manage refill schedules with peer support, reducing clinic visits and promoting community-led continuity of care.

2. Advanced Disease Management & Rapid ART Initiation

99% of newly diagnosed PLHIV were initiated on ART. Tracking systems and intensified prophylaxis were established for the 13% presenting with Advanced HIV Disease (AHD). Over 8,109 missed PLHIV were identified and facilitated for baseline VL tests.

3. Re-engagement of Lost to Follow-Up (LFU) Clients

Biannual LFU tracking campaigns using telephonic outreach, treatment literacy messaging, and real-time dashboards resulted in 94% of LFUs contacted and 16,610 clients successfully re-engaged in care as of April 2025.

4. U=U Clinics for Unsuppressed PLHIV

Peer-led U=U Clinics provide focused adherence support for PLHIV with unsuppressed viral loads through monthly counselling, treatment literacy, and community champion sessions with dedicated clinic days for consistent follow-up.

5. NCD Integration into Routine HIV Care

Hypertension and diabetes screening, diagnosis, and treatment have been integrated into routine ART services. Self-screening BP monitors are installed in waiting areas at high-load ART Centres. Cervical cancer screening is also provided for women living with HIV.

6. Viral Load Scale-Up & Suppression

A multi-pronged VL strategy uses centre-wise line lists, outreach to sub-populations, decentralized sample collection, and fishbone-method root cause analysis to prioritize never-tested and unsuppressed PLHIV.

7. TB Preventive Therapy (1HP)

Following the revised NACO Operational Manual (July 2024), 3,391 PLHIV were initiated on the 1HP regimen within six weeks across select Andhra Pradesh districts, with daily reporting enabling real-time stock and uptake tracking.

8. Integrated Hepatitis B & C Services

Hepatitis B vaccination was rolled out across 54 ART centres. Between February 2023 and January 2024, 89% of Hepatitis B-negative PLHIV received their first vaccine dose. Over 100,000 doses were delivered within 90 days without stockouts.

9. Data Intelligence & Digital Tools

Fuzzy Lookup tools corrected 2,647 duplicate records. Looker Studio dashboards support real-time LFU monitoring. Field insights were shared with NACO, contributing to national enhancement of the SOCH platform.

Differentiated Service Delivery Models for Improved Access to Care and Retention

• Family-Centric Care (FCC): Synchronizes ART refill visits and coordinates holistic care for entire families, improving retention and ensuring uninterrupted treatment for all family members living with HIV.

• Decentralised ART Dispensation: ART refills delivered through Primary Health Centres (PHCs), bringing services closer to clients and reducing the burden of travel to ART Centres.

• Fixed-Day Outreach Camps: Organized at peripheral and tribal sites to reach PLHIV in remote areas, delivering clinical care including ART dispensation, VL/CD4 testing, TB and Hepatitis screening, and vaccination on designated days.

Viral Load & Suppression

• 3,391 PLHIV initiated on 1HP TB preventive therapy within six weeks of rollout.

Comorbidity & Integrated Services

• 55% of PLHIV screened for hypertension; 2,037 initiated on treatment.

• 48% of PLHIV screened for diabetes; 1,627 initiated on treatment.

• 89% of Hepatitis B-negative PLHIV received the first vaccine dose; 100,000+ doses delivered in 90 days.

• 6,809 PLHIV reached through fixed-day outreach camps including key populations and children.

Data & Digital Systems

•  duplicate records corrected via Fuzzy 

• Real-time dashboards operationalized for LFU monitoring; advanced tools for improving program reporting accuracy, insights contributed to national SOCH platform design.