Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is proven to be one of the most powerful weapons in halting the spread of HIV/AIDS. Knowing one's HIV status, and being able to discuss this anxiety-provoking subject with a trained professional induces sustainable, positive behavior change in both infected and uninfected people.

People who test negative for HIV and undergo quality risk reduction counseling are more likely to change their behavior and to maintain their negative status, and those who test positive and receive counseling are motivated to protect themselves and others from HIV infection, and to seek medical, social and psychological support.

Unfortunately, VCT is often not available to the people who could benefit from this service the most. However, these programs are affordable: research demonstrates that quality VCT costs less than $30 per client, and approximately $240 per case of HIV averted. Establishing and strengthening high-quality VCT programs – and the networks that sustain them – are a priority for virtually every country where AIDSMark works.

In many countries, VCT is approached as a franchise. Zimbabwe's pioneering "New Start" program, for example, integrates counseling and testing services into existing delivery points –such as NGOs and private/public health service providers – and provides a few stand-alone VCT sites in densely populated urban areas. VCT services are easily replicated across the national network, linked by a common brand that signifies quality. The "New Start" brand is promoted using proven social marketing techniques to increase demand and reduce stigma around the use of VCT services. Mobile VCT units are used to reach those located in remote areas where a static VCT site would be cost prohibitive. High quality VCT services across the network are assured through standardized protocols and training, and constant compliance monitoring.

AIDSMark and PSI initiated VCT social marketing in Zimbabwe in 1999, and in just six years the project has developed into a franchised network of 20 VCT centers branded and promoted under the unifying name New Start, testing 15,000 clients per month. As of January 2007, PSI implements VCT projects in 21 countries worldwide and has tested over 1.7 million clients. In addition to Zimbabwe, PSI has branded VCT services in Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland under the New Start logo. PSI runs VCT centers in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire under the name Centre L'Eveil ("Awaken" in French). VCT and prevention of mother-to-child transmission services in Mozambique are branded with the name Renascer ("Rebirth" in Portuguese). PSI also implements VCT programs in Benin, Cambodia, El Salvador, India, Haiti, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda . In addition, Vietnam and Kenya implement VCT social marketing programs.

Additional VCT Resources

• PSI Counseling and Testing Strategy 2007-2009 - PSI's strategy for increasing access to and quality of HIV counseling and testing programs.

• Taking it to the Streets - Profile on how mobile VCT reaches truckers, sex workers and rural populations.

• Marketing HIV Counseling and Testing- Profile on the expansion of the Zimbabwe VCT program to 20 countries.

• Evaluation of Multi-Country Social Marketing Programs for Increasing Demand for VCT - Presents behavioral data from PSI VCT programs on the effectiveness of VCT social marketing campaigns

• Basic HIV Care Packages - Profile on a basic care and prevention kit for maintaining health among HIV-Positive people in Uganda

• Preventing Infection, Inspired by Faith - Faith-based organizations collaborating on VCT initiatives

• India's Operation Lighthouse- Profile on how India broke the mold on traditional HIV/AIDS behavior change approaches

• New Hope with New Start - the program that paved the way for VCT in 20 countries

• VCT in Zimbabwe; VCT in Swaziland