This community innovation has been accepted at the 2026 DHIS2 Annual Conference as a digital poster.
Optimizing HIV Monitoring via VL Data, Bangladesh
Background: Timely and accurate viral load (VL) monitoring is essential for assessing antiretroviral treatment effectiveness, ensuring sustained viral suppression, and achieving HIV targets. In Bangladesh, the PLHIV Tracker Database captures individual level HIV service, treatment, and follow up data. However, VL data were managed through parallel systems, limiting routine use. This initiative integrated VL data into the DHIS2 based PLHIV Tracker to strengthen HIV program monitoring. Methods: The integration standardized viral load (VL) data elements according to national HIV program requirements and aligned unique client identifiers to accurately link laboratory results with PLHIV records. DHIS2 Tracker modules were configured for routine VL data capture, validation, and analysis. Structured workflows enabled timely laboratory reporting while ensuring data quality, confidentiality, and interoperability. Capacity building activities trained data assistants, counselors, laboratory technologists, nurses, and clinicians to strengthen system use and data utilization. Results: Integration enabled real time monitoring of VL testing coverage, viral suppression, and treatment outcomes at national, sub national, and facility levels. Longitudinal VL data strengthened case based surveillance, supported early identification of unsuppressed clients, and informed timely clinical and adherence interventions. In 2025, 4,766 VL tests were conducted among 7,772 eligible PLHIV (62% coverage). Of those tested, 69% were male and 31% female; 89% achieved viral suppression, 9% were unsuppressed, and 2% had invalid results, demonstrating improved monitoring and progress toward UNAIDS 95–95–95 targets. Conclusion: Integrating VL data into the PLHIV Tracker Database is feasible and sustainable within existing systems. Standardized data elements, strong data governance, and targeted capacity building were critical to success, offering valuable lessons for other low and middle income countries.
Primary Author: MD. ALAUDDIN CHOWDHURY
Keywords:
HIV program monitoring Viral load integration PLHIV Tracker Database DHIS2 Case-based surveillance Antiretroviral therapy (ART) Viral suppression Health information systems Data integration Bangladesh
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