Voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT)

The objective of this study was to examine whether integration of services would yield an increase in clients served and improve the financial position of the program. A monitoring system was established to capture utilization, cost, and revenue data.

Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is much more than drawing and testing blood and offering a few counseling sessions. It is a vital point of entry to other HIV/AIDS services, including prevention and clinical management of HIV-related illnesses, TB control, psychosocial and legal support, and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.

The HIV epidemic continues to spread at an alarming rate, with over 14,000 new infections per day. While the epidemic is now spreading rapidly in some parts of Asia and Latin America and Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the greatest burden of disease. HIV prevalence exceeds 30 percent among sexually active adults in some African cities, and AIDS is the leading cause of death in major cities within sub-Saharan Africa.

Launched at the end of May, a new communications campaign will help to expand the reach of the VCT program. The campaign targets potential clients with information about HIV counseling and testing and the locations of VCT sites. Billboards and posters encourage clients to talk with counselors to discuss feelings of fear and concern, and to answer questions related to HIV/AIDS. The campaign also emphasizes the importance of testing as a crucial step in improving overall health and quality of life.

Effective and innovative responses to the psychosocial needs of young people and children (including counseling) require investment in addition to VCT services. The United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has a crucial role to play in this area.