Playa del Carmen Expands HIV Testing and Prevention Push

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The municipal government of Playa del Carmen, led by Mayor Estefanía Mercado, is expanding its strategy to prevent, detect and treat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), adding new testing sites, targeting schools and assembling a multidisciplinary team to guide patients into care.

At the fifth ordinary session of the Municipal Council for the Prevention of and Response to HIV-AIDS (COMUSIDA), held in the “María Petrona Uicab” hall of the new municipal palace, officials agreed to broaden early detection and make health services easier to access.

Among the agreements is moving the Point of Care laboratory from the Villas del Sol Primary Health Care Center (CAPS) to the CAPS in the Luis Donaldo Colosio neighborhood, bringing diagnostic services closer to more residents.

The session was chaired by Luis Armando Herrera Quiam, secretary general of the municipal government, alongside Health Secretary José Antonio Uribe Trujillo. Officials reported that 4,366 rapid tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis have been administered in Playa del Carmen so far in 2026.

Vanessa Canché Chi, coordinator of health promotion, said 1,530 tests were carried out at health centers and community outreach brigades between June and August, with the goal of exceeding 5,000 tests by the end of 2026.

During that period, 22 reactive cases were identified, mainly among people between 18 and 40 years old. Point of Care testing confirmed 10 cases, and those diagnosed were connected to treatment services in less than 72 hours, officials said.

Testing at Municipal Detention Center

As part of the detection effort, officials also carried out an intervention at the Municipal Detention Center, where 1,181 tests were administered. Seven HIV cases, seven syphilis cases and nine hepatitis cases were identified and referred for medical care.

Multidisciplinary Support Team

At the request of representatives of the LGBT+ community, COMUSIDA agreed to form a multidisciplinary management and support team drawn from social work, medical, psychology and legal departments.

The team will provide guidance, referrals and follow-up for people who need specialized care, including connecting them with second- and third-level health institutions, in line with agreements reached earlier in working groups.

Officials also proposed installing a module for detection and fourth-generation rapid testing to widen early diagnosis options.

Sexual Health School

Under the broader strategy, the council agreed to promote a “Sexual Health School” project aimed at educational communities, with prevention efforts against sexually transmitted infections and adolescent pregnancy.

Officials said the agreements aim to consolidate a municipal strategy that combines prevention, early detection, diagnosis, referral to health services and follow-up, while strengthening information and support work to help reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.