Voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing (VCT)

1. Voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing (VCT) Shumskaya Natalya Project manager, AFEW in Kyrgyz Republic Warsaw, Poland, 11–12 November 2005

2. AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) Dutch Non-governmental Humanitarian Public Health Organisation

3. AFEW’s Mission Statement AFEW’s mission is to make a major contribution to the reduction of the impact of HIV/AIDS by: • Taking an innovative and proactive approach • Targeting the younger generation • Co-operating closely with existing governmental structures and NGOs • Strengthening East-West engagement

5. Programmes • Harm reduction training • Pre- and post-HIV test counselling training • Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) • HIV prevention and health promotion among sex workers • Media campaigns on safe sex, and solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS • HIV prevention and health promotion in prisons

6. AFEW Starts Work in Central Asia With ‘Pre- and Post-HIV Test Counselling Project’ • In 2002 AFEW launched its first project on training medical specialists to perform pre- and post-HIV test counselling in Almaty. • Today, specialists from medical and social organisations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have the opportunity to attend AFEW counselling training sessions. • Our aim is to promote and improve pre- and post-HIV test counselling in the region.

7. What is Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)? WHO definition:- VCT is a cost-effective method of intervention which will increase Health Literacy and Ability among people who are at risk of contracting HIV. It is a highly effective entry point to prevention, treatment and support services.- VCT is a confidential dialogue between a counsellor and a client. This dialogue aims to support clients in makinginformed, responsible, and effective decisionsregarding his/her future plans and behaviours concerning HIV/AIDS.

8. What are the target problems that our programmes aim to solve? Although nobody opposes VCT… • Most specialists and clients do not understand the concept of confidentiality; it is usually confused with anonymity. • Many specialists have very limited communication skills and limited access to most at-risk communities. • Groups that are most at risk have poor or no Health Literacy, so they are unable to make effective decisions to protect themselves from contracting HIV.

9. How AFEW Tackles These Challenges • Counsellor Training • By October 2005, 332 counsellors will have been trained in the Central Asian Republics (CAR). • Trainer Training • By October 2005, 49 counselling trainers will have been trained. • Combining training with support of a service system, organisational development and behavioural change interventions targeting youth (such as mass media campaigns) • TMF Project – Development of client management networking in CAR, including support for self-organisations of PLWHA • IBPP (Kaz) – Support of stakeholders to develop effective strategic plans; uniting counselling training with mass media campaigns to attract more at-risk youth to VCT services

10. Pre- and Post-HIV Test Counselling PROJECT GOAL: Reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Aktobe and Taraz regions of Kazakhstan through the professional, sustainable and adaptive mechanism of counselling, and through the creation of a national team of counselling trainers, who can then implement the programme locally.

11. AFEW’s Role By working closely with local NGOs and government organisations, AFEW hopes to create a solid structure for HIV prevention.

12. Purpose of Training and Seminars • Strengthen knowledge and skills in different aspects of pre- and post-HIV test counselling. • Continue to promote the introduction of practical activities in the framework of various AFEW projects.

13. Content of the Training Programme The training programme consists of the following components: • Medical • Pre- and post-HIV test counselling • Counsellor training and future trainers

14. Medical component • Basic information on HIV • Ways of HIV transmission • Clinical questions • Treatment • Local particularities • Legislation of CIS countries and recommendations of international organisations on HIV/AIDS

15. Pre- and Post-HIV Test Counselling - What is counselling? - Who can provide counselling services? - Where are these services provided? - What are the conditions under which counselling can be held? - What information is available for clients?

16. Training for Counsellors and Future Trainers • Training: definition, history, objects and principles • Methods of working with group • Skills of training activity • Creating of training program • Planning, organization, conduct and evaluation of training

17. Evaluation of Training Effectiveness Evaluation criteria: • Level of knowledge and practical skills obtained • Change of attitude towards subject and clients • Willingness of participants to apply their new knowledge, skills and abilities in practice

18. Brochure to Attract Youth

19. Memo for Counsellors

20. Street Billboard to Attract Youth

21. Thank you for your attention! AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) Tel.:+996 312 69 23 57, fax: +996 312 69 23 47 E-mail: natalya_shumskaya@afew.org Web site: www.afew.org