N•A•T•I•C•C
Nhlangano
AIDS
Training,
information
and counselling
centre
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The Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Programme is the portion of NATICC that conducts free HIV/AIDS testing using Determine and Unigold test kits. These testing services are available at both the Nhlangano and Lavumisa locations and are also offered through the mobile VCT in various communities each week. The VCT procedure is as follows:
Ongoing counselling is also always available at both the Nhlangano and Lavomisa sites, which clients are encouraged to take advantage of at any time. Once a week HIV positive patients can come into the centre in Nhlangano to have a blood sample taken in order to determine their current CD4 count (the count of the cells which are responsible for protecting a person's immune system). This sample is sent to the nearest clinic with the technology to perform the actual count itself (right now the hospital in Hlathikhulu), and the next week the results are collected and then interpreted to the patient with counselling on healthy living and how to sustain and/or improve this count. When the count is less than 200, the client is referred to a hospital. Mobile VCT Our mobile VCT was developed in 2005 largely as a response to the observed needs to for VCT services in communities which are hard to reach, where the people often lack resources to get transportation to Nhlangano for testing. The mobile VCT is running successfully largely due to the network of volunteers in the different communities, including Coordinators and Peer Educators (see Information and Training Programme), support group members (see Care and Support Programme), and the United States Peace Corps. We schedule days to go into their communities, and they in turn help mobilize members of the community to come on that date to test. Other efforts are made to encourage VCT through outreach, including the sponsorship of community events or our invited attendance at other events. These events are typically held on the weekends to open up more convenient times for testing. The VCT programme has seen an increased number of clients over the past two full years of operation. This can largely be contributed to constant reevaluation of the effectiveness of VCT programs, the increase in staff, and the networks developed throughout the communities. Prayer Requests
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