ITM and HIVSAM welcome you to this workshop on VCT

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ITM and HIV-SAM welcome you to this workshop on
VCT

• Introduction

Christiana Nöstlinger, project coördinator HIV-SAM
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Why a workshop on Voluntary Counseling and HIV
Testing for Sub-Saharan African Migrants (SAM)?

• Epidemiological evidence
• SAM are disproportionally affected by HIV/Aids
• SAM test relatively late ? disease progression!

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• Health benefits of knowing ones HIV status
• We understand less well what needs to be done to
  promote VCT

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Aim of the workshop

• To report on the evidence available and present
  our own study results
• To discuss potential strategies and challenges to
  promote VCT
• among SAM
• To facilitate the collaboration around promotion
  of VCT (starting point)

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Context of HIV testing policies in Europe and
globally

• 2 papers in BMJ (June 2007) France, UK
• ? 1/3 in the UK and ¼ in the US do not know their
  HIV status
• Provider initiated testing opt-out
• versus
• Voluntary counseling and testing opt-in

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Policy guidelines

• countries should promotethe ideal that each
  person knows his or her HIV-status, in a social
  and legal environment that is supportive and safe
  for confidential testing and voluntary disclosure
  of HIV status.
• (UN General Assembly on AIDS, 2006).

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However, when applied to SAM

• HIV-related stigma
• Stigma and social exclusion within the community
  itself
• Social inequalities
• Lower access to general health and welfare system

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Crucial Question

• How to safeguard a supportive and safe
  environment for SAM when integrating
  (provider-initiated) HIV testing into different
  settings (such as primary care facilities,
  antenatal clinics, ER)?

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Program (morning)

• VCT study by HIV-SAM project
• Contribution of social services (OCMW) to the
  promotion of VCT
• Experiences from the UK with community-based
  services
• Overview of existing services and strategies from
  Belgium including the newly started low-threshold
  facilities (Antwerp, Brussels)
• Role of general practionners/primary care
  facilities

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Program (afternoon)

• 2 working groups
• ? WG 1 How to improve VCT quality in existing
  services? (? client perspective)
• ? WG 2 How can health care providers promote
  VCT? (? provider perspective)
• Please register!

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Program (afternoon)

• 15.40 hrs
• Debate conclusions and follow-up
• 16.30 hrs
• Reception!
• Dont leave too early!

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Our thanks go to

• The Flemish Ministry of Health and Welfare
• The Provinces of Antwerp and East Flanders
• Brystol Myers Squibbs
• Study participants and collaborators
• Audience for listening!