GAT strengthens community health work in Lusophone countries

Between August and September 2025, GAT – Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos, in partnership with local organizations and the ISPUP – Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto, carried out working visits to Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe as part of the Lusophone Network for Integrated Community Screening.

These missions are part of a project funded by the Portuguese State Secretariat for Health, through the Saúde No Junta program, which aims to expand integrated community screening for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. The project seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of using different rapid tests within the same screening model, contributing to the triple elimination of these infections in women and girls of reproductive age, while reinforcing the essential role of community health in Lusophone countries.

Cape Verde: capacity building and exchange of experiences

• From 17 to 22 August, GAT visited Cape Verde in partnership with VERDEFAM and ISPUP. During this week, the team was able to:
• Strengthen ties with local partner institutions;
• Exchange experiences directly with community teams in the field;
• Closely monitor the functioning of screening sites and the procedures in place.

This immersion made it possible to better understand local challenges, identify best practices, and support the consolidation of proximity services that are key to the sustainability of the health response.

São Tomé and Príncipe: training and alignment of practices

From 1 to 5 September, the visit to São Tomé and Príncipe, in partnership with ASPF – Associação Santomense de Planeamento Familiar and ISPUP, focused mainly on strengthening the training of screening technicians, updating technical knowledge, and ensuring alignment with national and international quality standards.

Beyond training, the mission also included:

• Meetings with ASPF members and partner associations, such as Associação Apoio à Vida, ANAPRASSEM – National Association of People at Risk and Affected by Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and the National Center for Endemics;
• Field visits to screening activities both in the city center and in Cantagalo.
• Strengthening community health in Lusophone countries

The visits to Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe highlight GAT’s commitment to working side by side with Lusophone partners to strengthen integrated community health responses, fostering the exchange of experiences, technical capacity building, and the development of sustainable, locally tailored solutions.