Community-based hepatitis testing and treatment and sexual and reproductive health in Myanmar (TREAT-HEP plus SRH)

We provide a ‘one-stop shop’ model of care at our service in Yangon. We offer: 

• HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C rapid diagnostic testing 

• on site hepatitis C virus testing (GeneXpert HCV viral load confirmation testing) 

• medicine that cures hepatitis C (direct-acting antivirals or DAA) 

• hepatitis B vaccines 

• needle and syringe program, providing safer low dead space needles and syringes 

• basic sexual and reproductive health services, including short-term and long-term contraception, STI screening and treatment, and cervical cancer screening. 

Our approach has 4 parts: 

• inclusive care for women who inject drugs 

• training for healthcare workers 

• peer workers who support those seeking care 

• building long-term local leadership.

Co-designing inclusive care 

We are using a gender-responsive model of care.  

We co-designed this model of care with women who inject drugs, and healthcare providers. 

It’s not a 'one size fits all' strategy. Instead, it’s tailored to meet each person’s needs. This helps make sure services are safe, inclusive and accessible for the women we want to reach.

Training for healthcare workers 

To ensure longer-term impact, we are developing a specialised training package for healthcare workers. We use a ‘Train the trainer' approach, so that people who get trained can train others. 

The training package is a key population sensitisation training.  

Key population sensitisation is a form of training that aims to reduce stigma in healthcare settings. We do this by supporting healthcare workers to gain the skills and insights they need to provide de-stigmatising and person-centred care. This also includes equipping individuals with the instructional skills to teach others.  

Healthcare workers who receive this training can better provide care that makes women who inject drugs feel empowered, rather than judged, when seeking care. 

Peer worker navigators 

We recruit and train women peer workers from within the community. We call them ‘navigators’ because they act as trusted guides. They help women who inject drugs navigate the healthcare landscape to access care. They also provide emotional support and make it easier for people to adhere to treatment through their shared lived experience.

Supporting local leadership 

We are strengthening the organisational and technical capacity of the local organisation, the Myanmar Liver Foundation. By empowering local partners to lead, we ensure that these specialised training packages and models of care remain integrated within local health infrastructure long after the project is complete.