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HIV testing and counselling

HIV testing and counselling

For over 20 years, client-initiated HIV testing and counselling, also known as voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), has helped millions of people learn their HIV status. Nevertheless, global coverage of HIV testing and counselling programmes remains low. Efforts are urgently needed to increase the provision of HIV testing through a wider range of effective and safe options.

In 2007, WHO and UNAIDS issued guidance on provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling (PITC) in health facilities to increase uptake and improve access to HIV health services. HIV testing is a critical entry point to life-sustaining care for people living with HIV, and service delivery models need to be expanded to testing in antenatal care, sexually transmitted infection clinics, in-patient wards as well as free-standing, client-initiated testing centres. People who test HIV negative should receive counselling on how to reduce exposure to HIV and stay negative.

HIV testing and counselling publications

Highlights

HIV testing and counselling in prisons and other closed setting
A technical paper and policy brief to inform discussions about how to scale up access to HIV testing and counselling for prisoners.
More information

Guidance on provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling in health facilities
Recommendations aim for wider knowledge of HIV status and greatly increased access to HIV treatment and prevention.
More information

30 September 2009
WHO has released a feature article on HIV testing and counselling.
More information


Advocacy drugs
Advocacy and general information
More information

policy hand of worry
Policy and guidance
More information

policy advocacy
Testing and counselling data and statistics
More information

training in testing and counselling
Training material
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Training in testing and counselling
Meetings and workshops
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testing and counselling links smile
Related topics and links
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EVENTS
More information


Dispatch from the field: Katutura State Hospital, Windhoek, Namibia
Katutura State Hospital, Windhoek, Namibia


KEY PUBLICATIONS

Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector. Progress report, September 2009
Towards universal access
Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector
Progress report, September 2009

More information
English [pdf 3.10Mb]
French [pdf 439kb]

Priority interventions
HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in the health sector
More information
English [pdf 1.39Mb]
French [pdf 1.66Mb]

Who we are
The HIV/AIDS Programme at WHO
English [pdf 220kb]
French [pdf 279kb]
Spanish [pdf 277kb]


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