Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services in Jamaica aim to address the country's HIV prevalence of 1-2% among the adult population. An estimated 22,000 people are living with HIV in Jamaica, with reported AIDS cases totaling 8,079. VCT services focus on counseling, testing, and referral for treatment of at-risk groups like youth, STI clinic attendees, antenatal clinic attendees, men who have sex with men, sex workers, and inmates. While over 75% of adults say they would be willing to get tested, barriers like stigma and limited access have prevented widespread testing, with only 15-24% of women and 15.9-48.7% of men in various

1. VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING In JAMAICA Boris Bloomfield 21/04/05

2. Jamaica ‘04 1 – 2 % HIV prevalence 65% of adult pop do not know status Estimated 22,000 persons living with HIV Accumulated AIDS cases 354/100,000 Reported AIDS Cases:8079 M:F =1.4 :1 Parishes with tourism higher RAC 13 deaths/week - CFR is 62.5%

3. Priority Components Policy, Advocacy, Legal and Human Rights Integrated multi-sectoral Response Prevention Care, Treatment and Support Monitoring and Evaluation

4. Administrative Arrangements (VCT) COMPONENTS Training Quality Assurance Service Delivery Standardization Communities Private companies Training Institutions Public Health Dept. MOH/NAP/RHA/ID -- NGO/CBO/FBO

5. VCT Services Group Education – clinic setting Pre and Post Test Counselling pMTCT, STI clinic attendees, inmates, MSM and other vulnerable populations Rapid – Determine, Uni Gold, Capillus Elisa – Enzygnost, Dade Behring, Murex, Abott Western Blot Health workers, NGO/Volunteers, others Referrals for further counselling/treatment

6. Use and Demand for VCT services Pop. 2.6 million At risk pop. adults: 23% M, 34% F Target pop. for services: - Youth, STI, ANC attendees Vulnerable pop. MSM, SW, Inmates STI: 25,000/50% ANC: 28,000/87.5% 95% return for results

7. Use and Demand for VCT services Tested I.E used services: 15 – 24 (F) 32.4%, (M) 15.9% 25 – 49 (F) 36.7% (M) 48.7% ^75% adult pop would willingly be tested Barriers: Stigma , limited access; technical staff and infrastructure 1500 under ARV treatment programme In need - 6000 to 8000

8. Challenges Infrastructural – number/privacy of counselling facilities Personnel – increase # tech/counseling Stigma – reduce/eliminate To provide rapid testing at all sites Expand the services to esp. rural communities/vulnerable populations

9. THANK YOU