At present, 52 CBVCTs in 21 European countries participate in the network. We are constantly updating the website as the COBATEST Network expands.
Austria
AIDS Hilfe WienAids Hilfe Wien is a non-profit non-profit association based in Vienna. It is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Fonds Soziales Wien and supported by the Life Ball. Aidshilfe Wien aims to; provide support for people living with HIV or AIDS, halt the further spread of the HIV virus and destigmatize people living with HIV The Counselling Department at Aidshilfe Wien is anonymous and offers psychological and medical advice as well as anonymous and confidential testing (HIV, HIV-PCR, syphilis, hepatitis and hepatitis C tests).
Bulgaria
Health Without Borders AssociationIn 2004, Health Without Borders Association established the first community-based HIV testing centre in Bulgaria in the city of Sofia, the Centre for Sexual Health (CSH), providing free, anonymous, and voluntary HIV counselling and rapid testing (VCT). In 2005, the CSH was used as a model of good practice by the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS Programme of the Bulgarian Ministry of Health, financed by the Global Fund to help establish a national network of 19 VCT units in the country. Since then the CSH has been playing a leading role in the implementation of the national HIV testing policy. In 2011, the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS Programme initiated nationwide MSM-targeted interventions. The MSM community bears the highest HIV burden in the country. Since its establishment HWBA has organised numerous HIV awareness campaigns and sexual health education sessions, distributed thousands of condoms & lubricants, and performed countless HIV screenings with a mobile unit for the general and key populations.
Iskorak provides anonymous and confidential HIV and syphilis testing and counselling, providing test results in 60 seconds. The testing centre is aimed at enabling men who have sex with men (MSM) to have access to a friendly service, in an environment specifically created for the needs of MSM, outside of medical institutions. MSM are the population most affected by HIV in Croatia. The testing venue is located in the city centre, close to LGBT venues. It is part of the LGBT community centre. The testing is organised in partnership with the Croatian Public Health Institute.
Cyprus
AIDS Solidarity MovementThe AIDS Solidarity Movement was established in 1989, in the Republic of Cyprus, as a Non-for-Profit and Non-Governmental Organisation. The movement aims to provide support to people living with HIV, people whose lives have been affected from HIV/AIDS, their friends and their families. ASM promotes awareness and education for HIVand stands against stigma, as well as and any kind of discrimination people living with HIV (PLWH) face. Now ASM offers a psychosocial support programme for PLWH and their friends and family, a support telephone line, awareness raising activities and outreach to increase HIV diagnosis. The Cy Checkpoint offers Anonymous, Free and Rapid HIV testing at pre-announced locations all around Cyprus and on specific days and times. The HIV Testing Events make use of the INSTI rapid tests and are made in a completely private environment.
Czech Republic
Czech AIDS Help SocietyThe Czech AIDS Help Society was established in 1989 as a peer-support initiative of PLWHIV, and their family and friends, with the aim of supporting PLWHIV in their daily lives. Over time, the NGO extended its goals and is currently very active in the field of HIV prevention and awareness, and policy advocacy – many of these new services are provided directly or with the support of PLWHIV. In the late 90s, the NGO opened the social centre Dum Svetla (the Lighthouse) that provides anonymous and free of charge HIV testing and accommodation services for PLWHIV. They run on-site HIV/AIDS counselling services in Prague and Ostrava, maintain a national free-of-charge HIV/AIDS hotline and organize topical awareness campaigns. Recently, the NGO started providing legal assistance to PLWHIV that were discriminated in relation to their diagnosis alongside running anti-stigmatization campaigns.
France
AIDESCreated in 1984, AIDES, a community-based and driven NGO, is one of the leading European associations in the fight against HIV and hepatitis. AIDES has been recognized as an organisation of public utility since 1990. For more than 30 years, AIDES has been working with populations most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis to reduce new infections, accompany people entering care and defend their rights. The association plays a major role in improving patient care in the health system in France, in the development of the rights of vulnerable persons and the fight against discrimination. AIDES works in several key areas; Rapid HIV and HCV Screening, information and prevention, support groups, innovation and research and defence of rights. AIDES is a founding member of Coalition Plus.
Checkpoint Paris offers community-based voluntary counselling and testing services aimed at MSM.
Germany
Deutsche AIDS-HilfeDeutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH) promotes structural prevention and health in the area of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) for groups particularly at risk for and affected by these infections. Checkpoints across Germany offer testing for HIV and STIs for MSM and other at-risk groups. DAH works in collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute to analyse the testing data.
Hungary
Háttér SocietyHáttér Society, founded in 1995, is the largest and oldest currently operating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) organization in Hungary. Their aims are calling attention to the problems faced by LGBTQI people; providing support services; exploring the situation and needs of LGBTQI people; mainstreaming these concerns in laws and public services; protecting the human rights of LGBTQI people and countering discrimination against them; promoting the health and well-being of LGBTQI people; encouraging the self-organization of LGBTQI communities; and preserving and spreading LGBTQI heritage and culture. Háttér Society offers a voluntary counselling service and organizes HIV testing campaigns aimed at the LGBTQI community.
Italy
Fondazione LILA Milano ONLUSThe Fondazione LILA Milano ONLUS is the Milanese unit of LILA -the Italian League for Fighting AIDS- LILA Milano staff offer a range of services for PLWHIV and vulnerable groups, including CBVCT services for HIV, HCV and syphilis on specific days/nights.
Latvia
Baltic HIV AssociationThe Baltic HIV Association is an NGO, founded in 2010 by specialists working in the HIV, drug addiction prevention/harm reduction and public health fields. In 2014 the association opened the first Checkpoint in Riga for MSM. It offers fast, anonymous and free HIV testing and advice to around 400 people a year. The association is concerned with HIV prevention, networking, offering expertise, research and surveys on HIV prevention and harm reduction.
Lithuania
Demetra - Association of HIV affected Women and Their FamiliesAssociation of HIV Affected Women and their Families «Demetra» is a non-governmental organization, established in 2000 and working in advocacy and service provision for people vulnerable to HIV infection: drug users, men who have sex with men, sex workers, prisoners and ex-prisoners. The main activities of the association are HIV testing and counselling for different population groups, linkage to healthcare those with positive test results, medical, social, psychological and legal support, self-help groups for PLHIV and their relatives, outreach and harm reduction services and advocacy.
Macedonia
HERAHERA (The Association for Health Education and Training) was formed in January 2000. HERA’s actions focus on HIV prevention, as well as the support of people living with HIV. HERA is committed to the promotion of human rights in the field of sexual and reproductive health, based on the principles of social justice and gender equality, such as the strategies of guardianship, education and service provision, and continuous and system development and instigation. HERA has been running outreach HIV testing and counselling services since 2007. Field activities are carried out in partnership with 16 civil society organizations whose main focus is harm reduction programs for drug use, programs for support of sex workers and programs for men who have sex with men. This activity is implemented by HERA in partnership with the Institute for Public Health in Skopje responsible for the expertise of the medical aspect of the program and 11 public health centres from different cities in the country. The service is intended for members of key populations: people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men and prisoners.
Moldova
GENDERDOC-MThe Information Centre «GENDERDOC-M» was established on 8 May 1998 and is one of the oldest NGO actively promoting LGBT (lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people) community rights in Moldova. It aims to create a legislative, legal and social framework for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people in society, by developing LGBT community, by informing, promoting rights and providing services, and expanding organisational capacities. Throughout their existence, GENDERDOC-M has carried out more than fifty projects at different levels with activities including prevention of HIV/AIDS and STD (sexually transmitted diseases), promotion of healthy life style, psychological and legal assistance (to transgender people, seropositive gay people, older gay people, relatives of people from LGBT community) and activities with professionals groups (psychologist, sociologists, journalists, policemen, doctors). GENDERDOC-M offers HIV testing for MSM/LGBT in their offices and in outreach in Chisinau and Balti.
Poland
National AIDS CentreThe National AIDS Centre (NAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Health of Poland. It was established in 1993, now employs around 25 people in different departments and operates according to the Regulation of the Minister of Health 14 June 2010. The NAC implements the tasks stated in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers 15 February 2011, on the issues concerning the National Program for Preventing HIV Infections and Combating AIDS. The NAC aims to implement prevention and education activities in the area of HIV and AIDS; elaborate principles and standards of diagnostics and therapy offered to people living with HIV/AIDS and coordinate activities of health care facilities that provide health services to people living with HIV/AIDS. The NAC has network of voluntary counselling and testing centres. All their VCTs perform anonymous and free-of-charge HIV tests along with pre and post counselling. At present, there are four such places in Warszaw, two in Kraków, two in Wroclaw and twenty-one in other cities.
Portugal
CheckpointLX (GAT)CheckpointLX is a community-based centre for men who have sex with men, for rapid, anonymous, confidential and free screening of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections, access to prevention methods, sexual counselling and referral to health care in the National Health Service.
IN-Mouraria is a low-threshold harm reduction centre that provides social and health interventions for people who use drugs. Rapid testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis is available for people who use drugs and the general population. Testing is performed by health professionals and peers.
Move-se is a mobile health unit intended to provide an anonymous, confidential and free service for rapid HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis tests to subpopulations such as migrants, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men and sex workers in the Setúbal area. Counselling is personalized and done by both technicians and peers with validated training, promoting access to sexual health in a more effective and integrated way according to the realities of different communities.
Romania
ARAS was founded in 1992, as the first anti-AIDS association in Romania. ARAS works in prevention of HIV / AIDS, hepatitis B and C and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and fights discrimination against people living with HIV and against populations at risk of infection. ARAS offers testing at checkpoints and outreach in Bucharest.
Serbia
Asocijacija DUGA/ Association RAINBOWThe Rainbow Association was founded in June, 2004. Rainbow was founded by LGBT persons with the goal of improving the quality of life of this population. After 5 years of increasing the capacity of the organisation, in 2009 they registered as a citizen association and expanded their objectives. Rainbow now works in areas related to the health, safety, support and social issues of LGBT people.
Slovenia
LegebitraLegebitra’s mission is to improve the standing and treatment of LGBT and people living with HIV (PLHIV) in different areas of life in Slovenia. By ensuring a safe space and through dissemination of relevant and accurate information they aim to educate and raise awareness, while at the same time drawing attention to inequalities in Slovenian society. The target groups are LGBT people and PLHIV , but they also raise awareness among the general public to improve inclusion of LGBT people and PLHIV. Legebitra provides free of charge and confidential testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C, oral and rectal gonorrhoea, targeted at men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans persons. Legebitra also provide various types of emotional, psychosocial and practical support for PLHIV and are active in the advocacy for the rights of PLHIV and other key affected populations.
Spain
ACASC - Associació Ciutadana Anti-sida de CatalunyaL´Associació Ciutadana Antisida de Catalunya (ACASC) is an NGO based in the Raval neighbourhood of Barcelona. ACASC strives to prevent HIV/AIDS infection and raises awareness of related issues, as well as providing assistance to people affected by the disease, especially those in a situation of social exclusion. They work to curb the spread of HIV and to eliminate social stigma and discrimination. Their programs include: a day centre, rapid HIV and syphilis testing, psychological support, accommodation, intervention in the prison environment and hospital accompaniment.
ACCAS aims to be a point of reference at the national, regional and local level in the response to the problem of HIV / AIDS. ACCAS provides free and confidential HIV rapid-testing. ACCAS offers comprehensive care for people living with HIV / AIDS, assistance, integration, support, information, education as well as prevention and advocacy for people living with HIV, vulnerable people and the general population.
Actuavallès is a non-profit association founded in 1993 to respond to the necessities created by the HIV epidemic of that time. The entity currently runs projects around three themes: prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; supporting people who are living with HIV and social action focused on combating social exclusion and poverty.
Adhara is an NGO founded in 2004 and recognised as an Entity of Public Utility by the Ministry of Interior in 2011. At present, they work as a community centre in close collaboration with the university hospitals Virgen del Rocío, Virgen Macarena and Virgen de Valme, the University of Seville, the City of Seville, and carry out projects endorsed by the Government of Andalusia and the Government of Spain. Adhara offer free, anonymous and confidential HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis C testing.
Àmbit Prevenció carries out tests at their centre based in the Raval neighbourhood of Barcelona, aimed at those working in prostitution. Their outreach programmes are also aimed at this collective working in the Barcelona province.
The Antiaids Association of Lleida is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 with the aim of improving the quality of life of people affected by HIV / AIDS (although it has worked in Lleida since 1989 when it was a delegation of the Association antiaids of Catalonia). Its programmes concern health promotion and prevention of AIDS. Antisida Lleida provides rapid HIV and syphilis testing as well as awareness-raising and health promotion activities in key groups.
ARD Lluís Companys is an integrated service within the Red Cross Drug Addiction Center located in the Sant Pere – Santa Caterina neighbourhood of Barcelona with two areas of work, CAS (Centre for Attention and Follow-up) and ARD (Area for Harm Reduction), with morning and afternoon schedules. The service is targeted at drug users and people who practice prostitution, in difficult health and social situations, who do not follow treatment, nor have medical, social and psychological follow-up. It has a program of needle exchange, the Social Club «Warmth and Coffee», legal assistance, social care, training classroom, «Snowball» workshops, workshops on «Overdose Prevention for opiate and psychostimulant», a space for assisted injection (EVA), nursing care, socio-sanitary assistance with access to HIV testing, counselling and antiretroviral treatment for HIV + people.
Asociación Stop Sida is a community group for LGBT+, male and trans sex workers and people with different identities, sexual orientation and serostatus. It promotes sexual rights and facilitates empowerment in Barcelona, by and for the LGBTI community.
SOMOS is a secular, feminist, progressive association and is not politically attached to any party or union. SOMOS offers free, anonymous and confidential rapid HIV and HCV testing.
AVACOS-H is an association of people committed to the defence of rights and the improvement of the quality of life for people living with HIV, AIDS and hepatitis. The organization is concerned with the prevention of HIV and other STIs in the general population and in the most vulnerable collectives.
CASCG is a non-profit association that aims to inform and prevent HIV, as well as provide care, assistance and support for people affected by HIV / AIDS or anyone who needs advice on HIV/AIDS. They also run campaigns and prevention days on risk behaviors related to HIV-AIDS and sexually transmitted infections for different social groups. In addition, they provide services for people in situations of social exclusion.
CASDA promotes the early diagnosis of HIV infection in the population, especially among the most vulnerable groups including those who have unprotected sexual intercourse. They do this by facilitating access to free and confidential rapid HIV testing. CASDA also offers a range of services related to HIV prevention including social and medical services for people living with HIV, awareness-raising and training related to HIV and health.
CCASiPA is a non-profit association, founded in 1987, which defends and fights for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. It offers support and accompaniment, awareness-raising around issues relating to PLWHIV and in a respectful way it breaks stigma and the discrimination that produces judgements.
The Youth Centre for Contraceptives and Sexuality (CJAS) is a centre that works with young people up to the age of 30, offering free, anonymous and confidential service on any topic related to sexuality. It is the youth programme of the Association for Family Planning of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (APFCIB) which has been working for 30 years to guarantee sexual and reproductive rights for the population. The CJAS offers services in person, via telephone, via WhatsApp or email.
The «Gades Women’s Multipurpose Social Center» welcomes, supports and trains women in situations of vulnerability, either because they are at risk of social exclusion through the practice of prostitution and/or victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. In order to achieve these objectives, the centre has a number of in-centre and outreach activities. It has been a place of reference for many women for more than 25 years, given that there is no other entity in Cadiz which offers comprehensive answers to women in vulnerable situations. Although activities are targeted at women, HIV antibody tests are available to anyone who requests it, because we understand that prevention and detection is important and is not limited to specific collectives.
In 1989 a group of families and people affected by HIV met in Valencia to initiate a project based on the promotion of prevention of risk behaviors, the improvement of health, stigma and discrimination for people with HIV. Conscious of achieving the right conditions for a dignified life for people living with HIV, the Committee became, after Barcelona and Madrid, the third biggest anti-AIDS association in Spain. CIBE Maritim provides services for active drug users. They work to reduce harm by offering daily services to people to improve their lifestyle, limit the transmission of HIV and defend the dignity of people with addiction problems. To achieve these goals, the service offers; rapid tests of HIV and Hepatitis C, health care, psychological attention, attention to basic needs, self-service workshops and prevention and health workshops.
The Centre for Services and Information on AIDS of Creu Roja Tarragona runs various projects aimed at reducing HIV infection and improving the lives of people living with HIV. The centre offers confidential, anonymous and free HIV rapid tests with pre- and post-test counselling. Creu Roja Tarragona also offers workshops and talks on risk behaviours and HIV prevention for young people, alternative temporary shelter for people affected by HIV / AIDS, bio-psycho-social support resources for those affected by HIV / AIDS, a Syringe Exchange Program, an assisted injection room for drug users and outreach services for sex workers.
Gais Positius, is an association of HIV-positive gay men that work to respond to the issue of HIV/AIDS in the LGBTI community. The organisation has been working as a peer-support group since 1990 and established as an association on the 1st December 1994. It was recognised and declared an Entity of Public Interest on the 10 July 2012. The main objective of the entity is to give support, information and improve the quality of life of gay men that are living with HIV/AIDS, demanding solidarity and respect from society.
IEMAKAIE carries out primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of HIV and other STIs. Counselling services are offered alongside HIV tests, help groups for people living with HIV, accompaniment and legal advice.
La Asociación Concordia Antisida is an NGO founded in 1994 with a view to meeting the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS who require specialized attention and services. In 1997 Concordia opened its day centre in San Pedro de Alcántara and has a multidisciplinary staff that includes a Nursing Assistant, two psychologists and a social worker. The Association aims to reduce the number of new infections among the population in general and in young people in particular. The Association carry out anonymous, confidential and free oral HIV rapid test by appointment and offer hospital follow-up and accompaniment.
Lambda is a collective of lesbian, gay, trans and bisexuals is a private non-profit association founded in 1986 as a response to the legal discrimination and social marginalisation that LGBTI people were suffering. Since then, Lambda has worked in society, publicly denouncing legal discrimination and social marginalisation towards LGBTI, educating society about the LGBTI reality and fighting to achieve the complete legal and social equality of all people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Lambda also works in the LGBTI community, promoting health, social participation and solidarity through support services.
OMSIDA is a non-profit that has worked in the area of attention, advice and prevention of HIV and AIDS in Aragón since 1993. We carry out anonymous, confidential and free HIV rapid testing just by making an appointment by telephone.
Siloé develops programs for people living with HIV / AIDS, through residential programmes, prevention and support initiatives, local actions and development cooperation. Its vision is to be a point of reference, offering integral attention to people living with HIV / AIDS, through a multidisciplinary and voluntary team, improving the quality of life and enhancing social integration, within its scope of action. Siloé offers free, confidential and anonymous HIV testing.
Switzerland
Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (Providing data for; Checkpoint Zurich, Checkpoint Vaud, Checkpoint Geneva, Checkpoint Bern, Checkpoint Basel)Checkpoint is a health centre for gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM). The Checkpoints Vaud and Zurich also counsel transgender people and their partners. The Checkpoints offer a broad range of services in medical, psychological and social areas. HIV and syphilis rapid tests are available, without an appointment, during opening hours in Zurich they are also available for women and non-gay men. At the Checkpoint people can talk confidentially about their life, sex and sexuality. Medical confidentiality and trust are guaranteed. With staff, people can discuss what the best protection is for their own health and that of their partner.
Ukraine
ALLIANCE.GLOBALAlliance.Global specialises in providing services for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM), focused on the progress of the subgroup of gay and bisexual men as part of LGBT community and the community in general; promoting the reduction of homo-, bi- and transphobia in Ukrainian society. The organisation started working in 2001 with a group of activists who, aware of the major risks of MSM in Kyiv launched a public initiative on HIV/STIs. Alliance.Global was registered legally in 2002. Since then, the organisation conducted over 20 projects and studies among MSM, which accounts for 40% of HIV/STI prevention services used by the MSM population in Ukraine. Today, the work of Alliance.Global is mainly focused on outreach/social work activities, HIV/STI testing and prevention, development of community centres for MSM and regional advocacy for access of vulnerable groups to health and social services. Testing for HIV/STIs is performed in the community centre for MSM of PO Alliance.Global and partner medical institutions. The service is free, anonymous and confidential.
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