VCT or voluntary counseling and testing defined as voluntary HIV counseling and testing (KTS). This service aims to help prevent, treat, and treat people with HIV/AIDS. VCT can be done at a health center or hospital or at a clinic that provides VCT services.
HIV/AIDS is still a significant global health problem, especially in developing countries such as Indonesia. WHO estimates that there are about 35 million people worldwide who have HIV and approximately 19 million of whom do not know that they are infected with HIV.
Based on data from the Ministry of Health and WHO, in 2018 it is estimated that there are around 640 thousand HIV sufferers with at least 46 thousand new cases of HIV in Indonesia.
Therefore, the VCT program plays a very important role in preventing the spread of the disease.
Stages and Processes in VCT
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a VCT guide that is useful in detecting and treating HIV globally. These guidelines are then applied in various countries, especially developing countries.
In principle, VCT is confidential and carried out voluntarily. This means that it is only carried out on the initiative and approval of those who come to the VCT service provider for inspection. The results of the examinations carried out during the VCT are kept confidential.
After signing the written consent, VCT can be performed immediately. The main processes in handling HIV/AIDS through VCT are as follows:
Counseling Stage Before Test
When providing counseling, the counselor will provide information to clients about HIV and AIDS. During counseling, the counselor will also ask the client several questions.
Clients are encouraged to be honest and open with the counselor in telling a history of previous habits or activities that are suspected of being at risk of being exposed to the HIV virus, for example a history of work or daily activities, sexual activity, and drug use by injection.
In the counseling session, the counselor may also ask about the client's history of illness or previous medication, such as a history of sexually transmitted infections or blood transfusions.
HIV test
After the client gets clear information through counseling, the counselor will explain about the examinations that can be done and ask for the client's consent (informed consent) to be tested for HIV.
After obtaining written consent, an HIV test can be performed. When the test results are available, the client will be notified and asked to come back to the VCT service provider facility so that the counselor can tell the results that have been done.
Stages of Counseling After the Test
After receiving the test results, the client will undergo a post-counseling stage. If the test result is negative, the counselor will still provide an understanding of the importance of reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS. For example, educating clients to have safer sex and use condoms.
However, if the test results are positive, the counselor will provide emotional support so that the sufferer does not get discouraged. The counselor will also provide information about the next steps that can be taken, such as treatment and medication that need to be undertaken.
The counselor will also provide instructions so that the client can always lead a healthy lifestyle and take some steps to prevent HIV from transmitting it to others.
In the next stage, the counselor's role is to further support and strengthen the mental health of HIV sufferers so that they remain enthusiastic in carrying out activities and daily life and ensure that HIV sufferers continue to receive regular treatment.
Some Benefits of Doing VCT
HIV/AIDS infection must be watched out for because HIV infection does not have clear initial symptoms. Without sufficient knowledge, the spread of HIV will be increasingly difficult to avoid.
Therefore, VCT needs to be carried out as an initial step to obtain information about HIV so that people with HIV can immediately detect it as early as possible and receive the necessary treatment.
This method is very helpful as a step to prevent and control HIV/AIDS. Although there is no treatment that can completely cure HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral (ARV) treatment currently used to treat HIV can suppress the development of the HIV virus in the patient's body.
Thus, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are able to improve their quality of life and endurance. By receiving ARV treatment regularly for life, PLWHA can still work, go to school and work.
The majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are young people. With various main causes, such as risky sexual behavior, for example, frequently changing sexual partners and not using condoms as protection, making piercings or tattoos, and using drugs through injection needles.
However, not only young people, anyone can undergo HIV counseling and need not be afraid to undergo VCT. This step can actually help increase everyone's knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
Armed with good knowledge, VCT is not only able to prevent HIV transmission, but also reduces stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).