THE Home Based HIV Testing and Counselling (HBHTC) programme, aimed at testing and counselling people from their homes, was launched at the Mbabane East Inkhundla yesterday.
Speaking on behalf of Swaziland National Aids Programme (SNAP), Phumzile Mndzebele said it was important for one to know their HIV status in order to avoid the spread of HIV. She said counsellors would soon move from door to door counselling and testing people. The counsellors recently underwent a seven-day training on HIV testing and counselling in homes.
Mndzebele said in Uganda this programme had already started, so officials from that country would help Swaziland on how the door to door campaign is done.
“Door to door HTBC will start on the 30th August, 2010 from the Mbabane East and Motshane Tinkhundla. If it is successful, it will later be expanded to all the other constituencies of Swaziland,” said Mndzebele.
Mndzebele emphasized that Government was working hand in hand with other organisations in making sure that the programme was a success.
Organisations like PEPFAR (Presidential Emergency Plan For Aids Relief), United Nations, PSI, URC and NERCHA helped in buying testing kits, provision of transport for counsellors , TB screening and testing of counsellors.
The HTBC counsellors later performed a drama on how door to door would be done. They would give out all relevant information on HIV and conduct testing with the clients consent.
An individual has the right to choose whether to be tested or not. The HIV results remain confidential.
Peter of PEPFAR said they were working with the ministry of health in making sure that the clinics would have ARV’s for all those who would need to start ART. “This programme would also help improve health facilities,” said Peter.
“Swaziland has an estimated population of just about a million people, with an HIV prevalence rate of 26%, but only about 25% of the total adult population have gone for an HIV test and know their status. The percentage of those who know their HIV status is very low, thus the need for door to door HBHTC. HIV is an emergency in Swaziland, because it is growing at an alarming rate,” said Sister Mncina of the Mbabane PHU community.
The door to door programme is advantageous because the public would not have to travel to clinics for testing, nor will they have to queue at hospitals or clinics.
Source: Swazi Observer