Importance of VCT in the community

VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING (VCT) AND Its IMPORTANCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

Voluntary Counselling and testing (VCT) Is a testing for HIV/AIDS ,which involves pre- and post-test counselling done on one's free will.
A person is always counseled before and after the test regardless to the results.

ADVANTAGES OF BEING TESTED FOR HIV/AIDS
If your result is negative,you can be reassured that you were not infected three months before the test.
If one Has a family,he  May want to know one's status so one can plan for his/her family's future.
It offers opportunity for early treatment of HIV and associated infections like TB or pneumonia.
It assists infected persons to protect others from being infected and live positively.



 DISADVANTAGES OF BEING TESTED
Learning  that the person is infected with HIV can be very distressing.The degree of distress depends on how well the person is prepared for the news,how  the person is supported by family and friends,and person religious attitude.

A person who learns he/she is infected with HIV is likely to suffer from feelings of doubt,fear,grief,depression,denial and anxiety.
Partners and family members are likely to suffer from the consequences of an HIV positive test result as well as infected person.
A person who has tested HIV positive may be discriminated against if the information is found out.
BENEFITS OF VCT IN THE COMMUNITY.
It generates feelings that things will turn out as large numbers of people testing negative
It impacts community norms as regard to testing,risk reduction,discussion of HIV status
It reduces stigma as more people go public about being HIV positive
It serves as a catalyst for the development of care and support services like aid to orphan


The only way of avoiding HIV is Abstinence or being faithful to one another.
NJUGUNA ANN NJERI

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