ONE hundred and eleven trained individuals joined the health sector resource cluster, on Tuesday, certified to function as counsellors/testers at Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) sites.

Cross Section of the recently certified Counsellor/ Testers.

The group underwent 15 days of training before two weeks of on the job exposure at a high volume VCT clinic.

The focus was on counselling for the first 10 days and the later five days were devoted to testing, at the end of which an evaluation was done, with the minimum pass marks being 85 per cent.

To ensure quality, anyone who fell below that percentage would have to retake the entire course.

Dr Shanti Singh, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), said the addition of the graduates would boost capacity in the delivery of health care in the area of HIV/AIDS.

However, she pointed out that they are not a part of the national programme but are reserve resources that would assist the organisation they are or have become affiliated to, as well as support for NAPS at major events such as National Day of Testing.

Singh said those who qualified were chosen from, among others, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the general public.

“We had persons from several organisations but the majority came from the general public,” she stated.

Singh said, to ensure continued support from the reserve counsellors/testers, an annual refresher stint is planned to keep their skills sharp.

She said, currently, Guyana operates 65 VCT sites, with at least one counsellor/tester at each.

Singh elaborated that there are 43 fixed sites in eight of the ten regions and the two mobile teams serve the hinterland.

VCT is a recognised entry point to care and treatment in this country but, prior to 2003, there was only limited access to it, being only available at a limited number of public health institutions and at one non-governmental organisation (NGO).

With the addition of partners such as the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), World Bank and Global Fund, there was a dramatic improvement in access to VCT.

Singh said the role of counsellors/testers is to promote awareness and be supportive of the individuals with whom they are dealing.

Responsible
Before an HIV test is performed, the trained health worker will be responsible for talking the person to be tested through the exercise and about what can be done if the result is positive, how to change risky behaviour and employ protection in the future.

VCT is one of the key elements of the Government in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The other measures include:
* AIDS awareness and education training at work sites;

* rigorous blood screening for HIV and other infectious markers;

* reducing the risk and vulnerability to infection with HIV through targeted public education efforts focused on health care providers, youths, employers, employees, entertainers, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men;

* provision of free HIV services, including antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients;

* support for persons living with HIV (nutritional, psycho-social, economic and others) as well as

* support for orphans and vulnerable children.