Home Based HIV Testing, Counselling Launched
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.
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