Positive Telephone Hotline Project for People Living with HIV – 5

Duration: 1 year / February 2025 – February 2026

Budget: 1,504,800 TRY

Funder: Gilead Sciences

Objective, Target and Methodology:

The project, implemented between February 2025 and February 2026, aimed to enable people living with HIV and their relatives—both from all provinces of Türkiye and those residing abroad—to reach the association and receive information and support from peer counselors specialized in HIV.

Within the scope of the project, not only people living with HIV but also individuals with suspected exposure were provided with information. In this way, individuals living with HIV who were unaware of their status were guided towards testing and, consequently, treatment. The project aimed to provide services to an average of 120 people per month, including peer counseling for people living with HIV and information support for individuals with risky exposure.

The hotline, operated by expert peer counselors in the field of HIV, provided services in Turkish, English, and French, and was available on weekdays between 12:00 and 19:00.

Outputs:

Within the 12-month project period between 22 February 2025 and February 2026:

• 1,247 previously diagnosed clients → 1,628 consultations

• 428 newly diagnosed clients → 793 consultations

• 52 individuals awaiting confirmation → 73 consultations

• 1,027 individuals for risky exposure and testing counseling → more than 1,333 consultations

In total, 2,754 individuals received support and counseling services 3,827 times.

Turkish Project Report: HERE