Ethiopian National HIV Testing Day
September 10, 2007

The observance of the national VCT Day in Ethiopia is now in its third year. This year it is observed on the eve of the Ethiopian Millennium and at the end of the Ethiopian 20th Century with the theme "New Millennium. New Life." - a campaign focusing on empowering the family through HIV testing. The campaign also plans to raise the knowledge and awareness of individuals and couples regarding the benefits of routine HIV testing as an entry point to prevention, treatment, care and support.

This annual observance is targeted at enabling people to gain the knowledge they need to take control of their health and their lives. It is also an invaluable opportunity to dispel the myths and the fear that often keep many from accessing HIV testing service.

Testing is important because early detection of the infection allows access to early treatment, prolonging life and improving the quality of life. In addition, testing can help prevent the spread of the virus through awareness of one's HIV status.

This year's campaign's Objectives:

• To encourage family, couples and individuals to seek VCT services
• To prevent new HIV infections and to reduce stigma and discrimination by increasing education and awareness about HIV.
• To encourage persons who are HIV positive to access treatment.
• To increase knowledge about availability and accessibility of treatment.

Target Group

• Family
• Couples
• All individuals

Benefits of VCT

• To the Couple and Family
  - Supports safer relationships – enhances faithfulness
  - Guides couples in making informed decisions about HIV prevention and about future plans for example marriage and pregnancy
  - For couples with discordant HIV test results, knowledge of HIV status can help protect the uninfected partner through condom use abstinence, or other safe sex practices.
• To the Individual
  - Empowers the uninfected person to protect himself or herself from becoming infected with HIV
  - Assists infected persons to protect others and to live positively
  - Offers the opportunity for treatment of HIV and of infections associated with HIV
  - Encourages family planning and treatment to help prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission
• To the Community
  - Generates optimism as large numbers of persons test HIV-negative
  - Impacts community norms (testing, risk reduction, discussion of status, condom use)
  - Reduces stigma as more persons “go public” about having HIV
  - Serves as a catalyst for the implementation of care and support services
  - Reduces transmission and changes the tide of the epidemic

Advantages of Family/Couple HIV Counseling & Testing

• Individual is not burdened with the need to disclose results and persuade partner to be tested;
• Children will not be left out of the benefits in case of positive results;
• Offers safe environment for couples to discuss risk concerns and issues;
• Partners hear information and messages together - enhancing the likelihood of a shared understanding;
• Facilitates the communication and cooperation required for risk reduction;
• Counseling messages are based on the results of both individuals;
• Provides opportunity for the counselor to mitigate tension and avert blame.

Posters

Click here to get 2006 VCT Resources.

For more information contact:

Selamawit Mamo
AIDS Resource Center
Bole Road, Dembel Building, 9th Floor
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: 251-11-5503584
SelamawitM@etharc.org
www.etharc.org