T12-O-03 Operationalising of voluntary counselling testing centers in community health centers - experiences from an HIV/AIDS programme, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The vulnerability of the young women to HIV/AIDS in the tribal dominated Udaipur district in Rajasthan of India is mainly due to low literacy, less control over decision making, alcoholism, cultural practices, RTI/STDs and sexual net-working. CHARCA (Co-ordinated HIV/AIDS and STD Response through Capacity Building and Awareness) a Joint UN project to reduce the vulnerabilities of young women to HIV/AIDS was implemented in the district to address the vulnerabilities of young women to HIV/AIDS. The strategies included awareness generation, provision of services and capacity building. The VCTCs were estabished as part of the provision of services in all the 11 blocks in a phased manner. It was for the first time in the state that VCTCs were established at the Community Health center (100000 population) much lower than the District Hospital. From 2004 end to 2007 June, about 25499 clients were counseled, 1438 were tested and 100 were positive. The lessons learned are 1) The client load in t VCTCs have increased over time period due to the Peer educator approach and awareness campaigns 2) Linkages between the SRH services in the health institution and the VCTC have increased 3) Presence of VCTC at the block level have helped the PLWHA to access the SRH services at the institution and for PLWHAs to access the ART therapy. Apart from this the paper will also look at the lessons learned and challenges on operationalising the VCTC services in a SRH setting like Community health center.