The Cyprus Checkpoint, established by the Movement for AIDS Solidarity, conducted a total of 5,282 HIV tests and 3,971 syphilis tests in Cyprus between 2015 and August 2024. These figures were shared in a statement marking World AIDS Day, highlighting the organization’s achievements and ongoing efforts to combat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Cyprus Checkpoint has played a critical role in HIV prevention and awareness in Cyprus. Since its inception in 2015, it has connected 57 individuals living with HIV to public health services, primarily assisting them with accessing the Gregorios Clinic and psychosocial support services established since 1995.

Over the years, the organization has distributed more than 50,000 condoms and lubricants. It has also actively supported the Ministry of Health’s decision to make self-tests available, providing expertise, information, and distributing tests to members of the community.

The Movement for AIDS Solidarity emphasized the centrality of testing in achieving UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 goals by 2030. These goals aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of diagnosed individuals to access antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those on treatment to achieve undetectable viral loads.

“All three targets are interconnected. Without reaching the first goal—ensuring that at least 95% of people living with HIV are aware of their status—we cannot succeed in the other two,” the organization stated. It also highlighted that accessible, community-driven preventive testing services are vital to achieving these targets.

Operating under international best practices, the Cyprus Checkpoint follows the Community-Based Voluntary Counselling and Testing (CBVCT) model. Since 2018, it has been an active member of the COBATEST network, which connects prevention centers worldwide. Rapid antibody tests are conducted by trained Community Health Workers (CHWs), and the organization has provided training for health professionals, including nurses and psychologists from the Cyprus Addiction Treatment Authority (2020), for testing in harm-reduction and detoxification facilities.

The organization has also trained activists and community organizations across Europe and Central Asia in collaboration with AIDS Action Europe and the European AIDS Treatment Group. Since 2016, the Movement has been the primary representative of the community in Cyprus, supplying data to the Ministry of Health and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for the Dublin Declaration.

Despite its successes, the Movement underlined a significant gap: the lack of access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Cyprus. PrEP is a medication that reduces the risk of HIV infection by 99% when taken correctly. The organization has been advocating for universal access to PrEP since 2019, emphasizing its necessity for achieving the UNAIDS targets.

“Without PrEP being available to everyone who needs it in Cyprus, we cannot meet the UNAIDS goals as a nation,” the Movement asserted. Combining PrEP with other prevention tools—such as testing, condoms, lubricants, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy—alongside education and awareness campaigns, can lead to a healthier, stigma-free future.

The Cyprus Checkpoint’s initiatives, driven by the community for the community, demonstrate that prevention efforts can be both cost-effective and highly professional. These actions underscore the necessity of inclusive and accessible services in building a healthier society without stigma.