Couples undergo HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Dar es

By Nasser Kigwangallah

MALE involvement in HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is crucial if the war against the pandemic is to be won.

The remarks were made by Agnes Mandwa, project coordinator KIOTA Women Health and Development (KIWOHEDE) at a one day event aimed at sensitizing married couples to undergo HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Dar es Salaam recently.

The event was organized in collaboration with Engender Health through its Champion programme.

She said involving couples-focused voluntary counseling and testing is effective because the full package of care can be made available to the entire family from the point of diagnosis.

She said they wanted more men to come and fully participate in the whole process of HIV/AIDS testing so that the war against the pandemic could be contained and later on won.

“Through linkages with Champion and Engender Health, established this continuum of care where both men and women who came to local partner treatment facilities for antenatal care are referred to,” she said.

She added that men may fail to access HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services for reasons that include occupation, residence, employment-related migration, social norms and cultural beliefs.

But, she added that the open event at a local market in Dar es Salaam has proved to be effective as most men have come to access this service.

She remarked: “We have so far tested eighty people and more are still coming, surpassing the target of only sixty people we have anticipated earlier.”

On his part Muganyizi Edward, the Committee Action Team member said the programme in particular, advocated for male participation in prevention of vertical HIV transmission programmes in order to improve outcomes for women and children at the family level.

“Male partners can influence women’s uptake of HIV testing and antenatal services.  For example, women may experience difficulty adhering to treatment due to concerns about disclosure to a partner,” he said.

He added that increasing evidence suggests that partner support results in greater antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and antenatal clinic attendance, as well as lower transmission rates of HIV to a child.

He said a first step in generating partner support was getting men to test for HIV as well. 

He said there is a heightened risk of transmission during pregnancy in discordant couples, in which one person is HIV-infected and the other is not, for both women and men. 

He remarked: “In the case where the man is HIV positive, precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of transmission to his pregnant partner also preventing transmission to the child.”