HIV Testing and Counselling
Here at St. Francis' Hospital Nyenga, HIV testing and counselling (HTC) is a package service intended to allow people to make informed decisions regarding knowledge of their HIV status and the implications of those decisions.
Various studies have proved that good counselling has: assisted people to make informed decisions—such as whether to have an HIV test; helped many other people living with HIV or AIDS to cope better with their condition and lead more positive lives; and helped prevent HIV transmission.
Importance of HTC
- For individuals. It allows people to make informed choices about their future practices and behaviours. It enhances their ability to reduce their risk of acquiring or transmitting the infection to others; it helps them cope with their HIV sero-status; and it is a gateway to prevention, care, treatment and support.
- For communities. More people knowing and understanding the implications of their sero-status within a certain community can result in raising community awareness, in reduction of stigma, discrimination and denial and in mobilizing collective action.
- For populations. It can feed into better understanding of epidemic trends and drivers, and hence, results in better planning and response.
Quality of HIV Counselling Services Offered in Nyanga Hospital Include:-
- A daily medical Out-patient clinic to an average of 180 clients per day
- Home based care to bedridden and terminally ill patients on one Friday a week.
- Management of Opportunistic Infections including Tuberculosis
- Provision of Anti Retro Viral Therapy
- Targeted Counselling and testing for HIV on all hospital wards
- Spiritual counselling
- Elimination Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV(EMTCT)
- Post Exposure prophylaxis and Pre-Exposure prophylaxis.
- CD4 and Viral load testing
- Screening for cancer of the cervix and cryotherapy services.
- Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) including partner notification.
- Safe Male circumcision and condom distribution