Syphilis/HIV Early Rapid Response (SHIVER): Community-Driven Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Across Diverse Sites in Saskatchewan, Canada

Background

Saskatchewan faces a growing public health challenge, with outbreaks of infectious syphilis and a continued increase in new HIV diagnoses. Rural, remote, and underserved populations experience disproportionate burdens due to barriers to timely testing, diagnosis, treatment, and linkage to care. The Syphilis/HIV Early Rapid Response (SHIVER) project implemented an innovative point-of-care testing (POCT) and treatment model to improve access to rapid diagnosis, immediate treatment, and care for individuals in inner-city, rural, remote, and underserved communities across Saskatchewan, Canada.