Background
In the area of HIV counseling and testing NASCOP in the past developed policies and guidelines for both voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and for testing in clinical settings. Since VCT has been implemented from 2000, the institutional framework is firmly established. The current NASCOP tasks include quality assurance and supervision. Also, NASCOP will continue to coordinate the integration of other VCT models into the main system, such as mobile and home-based VCT.
Testing in clinical settings still needs further support in the area of systems strengthening in areas such as training, data management and community mobilization. Scores of health workers at all levels need to be trained and oriented on PITC. The data capture tools for PITC need to be disseminated and the indicators integrated into the general health system.
NASCOP shall continue to mobilize stakeholders to consolidate all the gains that have been made in counselling and testing and also to radically expand both quality and quantity of counselling and testing services in the country. Through planned activities, NASCOP will increase health worker participation in testing and counseling and streamline referral linkages in Government facilities.
Increased health worker participation in CT shall also be achieved through dissemination of national guidelines to reflect the changing trends of HIV testing. The rethinking of this testing paradigm has been driven by a number of factors that include:
People seeking care in clinical settings on the other hand are more likely to be HIV positive and also have more advanced disease and qualify for ART. This is especially for the In-patients, TB and STI patients
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The realization that performing HIV test for a patient presenting with certain symptoms should be seen as being integral to good clinical care and failure to offer the HIV test is substandard care
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Availability of rapid test kits, which make testing easier, quicker and do not require laboratories or qualified laboratory technologists.
Therefore NASCOP has carried out training for health workers in Nyanza, Western, South Rift and Coast province. There is need to follow them up to asses programme needs and challenges.
OBJECTIVES
- To review, harmonize, print and disseminate CT policies and guidelines
- To promote rapid expansion of all types of CT
- To ensure that all CT services are provided in the highest quality
- To strengthen M/E system for CT
- To promote proper information and awareness about CT in Kenya, both among health workers and in the general public
- To work with other partners to pilot new CT innovations
