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Screening
and treatment available at VCT center |
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Blood
samples stored in VCT center |
“The
social aspect of HIV is the worst aspect
of the disease,” explains counselor
Nahla Mahjoub Al-Zubair who works as a social
counselor in the Voluntary and Counseling
and Testing Center (VCT) in Khartoum North
Hospital.
She further adds, “The VCT center
is usually approached by 25-30 clients per
month who test for HIV and others who wish
to know more about HIV.”
The counselors and doctors
in the clinic emphasize to clients approaching
the center that all testing is confidential
and that treatment is available and free
of charge. Nahla further states, “If
a client discovers that he/she is positive
we inform them immediately about the availability
of antiviral treatment and counseling here
at the center and we advise to bring his/her
family to do the test as well.”
“Over time patients have
built a special rapport with the counselors
here in the VCT center, which poses as a
problem when the counselor leaves or is
transferred to another center, since we
have a very small number of them in the
state.” UNDP GFATM in collaboration
with SNAP is actively involved in training
of VCT counselors who are the backbone of
the VCT centers.
Nahla also talks about future projects for
the center “We are currently discussing
the feasibility of establishing a direct
hotline for individuals who wish to pose
questions about the HIV and HIV-related
diseases, without actually having to approach
the center for fear of stigma.”
The VCT center in Khartoum
North hospital has been established in 2007
and will soon also become a PMTCT (Prevention
Mother to Child Transmission) center. PMTCT
centers focus on mother-to-child transmission
during pregnancy and after birth. Screening
and treatment is provided to mothers who
approach the centr
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