Hiv Voluntary Counseling and Testing
Cyber-VCT Program
The 2010 UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic states that based on the 2009 data, 33.3 million people are living with HIV worldwide and Sub-Saharan Africa makes up 68% of the global total with 22.5 million people living with HIV.1 In an effort to address this epidemic, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) programs have been implemented in many of rural and remote areas. VCT serves as the gateway to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by allowing people to learn their HIV status. According to World Health Organization (WHO), knowledge of one’s HIV status benefits the individuals, community, and population through awareness and education.2 Therefore, there have been great efforts to expand VCT services since inception over 20 years ago. Unfortunately, global participation remains low, especially in the remote areas.3 Studies show that there are various reasons why people do not participate. Some of the main reasons are stigma, lack of awareness, lack of access, cost of the test, and test-related fears.4 Several VCT models have been implemented to address these concerns but research suggests that further work needs to be done. Organic Health Response (OHR) has piloted an innovative Cyber-VCT Program in Mfangano Island by using technology to attract residents to participate. The Cyber-VCT Program uses access to solar-powered internet as an incentive to attract people to do HIV testing. The people who participate become part of the Post-Test Club and have free access to the labs in the Cyber-VCT facility called Ekialo Kiona Center (EKC). The facility has confidential VCT rooms, solar-powered computer lab with satellite Internet, radio studio, seminar rooms, and an “Global report: UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2010” (UNAIDS, 2010: http://www.unaids.org/globalreport/documents/20101123_GlobalReport_full_en.pdf). 2 World Health Organization, “Scaling-up HIV
The 2010 UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic states that based on the 2009 data, 33.3 million people are living with HIV worldwide and Sub-Saharan Africa makes up 68% of the global total with 22.5 million people living with HIV.1 In an effort to address this epidemic, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) programs have been implemented in many of rural and remote areas. VCT serves as the gateway to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by allowing people to learn their HIV status. According to World Health Organization (WHO), knowledge of one’s HIV status benefits the individuals, community, and population through awareness and education.2 Therefore, there have been great efforts to expand VCT services since inception over 20 years ago. Unfortunately, global participation remains low, especially in the remote areas.3 Studies show that there are various reasons why people do not participate. Some of the main reasons are stigma, lack of awareness, lack of access, cost of the test, and test-related fears.4 Several VCT models have been implemented to address these concerns but research suggests that further work needs to be done. Organic Health Response (OHR) has piloted an innovative Cyber-VCT Program in Mfangano Island by using technology to attract residents to participate. The Cyber-VCT Program uses access to solar-powered internet as an incentive to attract people to do HIV testing. The people who participate become part of the Post-Test Club and have free access to the labs in the Cyber-VCT facility called Ekialo Kiona Center (EKC). The facility has confidential VCT rooms, solar-powered computer lab with satellite Internet, radio studio, seminar rooms, and an “Global report: UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2010” (UNAIDS, 2010: http://www.unaids.org/globalreport/documents/20101123_GlobalReport_full_en.pdf). 2 World Health Organization, “Scaling-up HIV