Getting tested for HIV is a challenging issue for everyone. We try to convince ourselves that it is not necessary and we engage in thoughts, like "Why should I get tested"? "I don't sleep around". "He/ she (my partner) looked perfectly healthy and normal" and other thoughts, which serve to decrease our fears. The reality, however, is that we are all at risk, whether we are in a long-term relationship or dating.

Friday, August 19, 2005, was declared National HIV Testing Day, here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The activity was conducted at Health Centers and was facilitated by capable health personnel. A vital aspect of the testing procedure was the pre- counseling session, which was managed by the nurses at the Health Centers in Providenciales, Salt Cay, the Coordinator of the National AIDS Program and the Program Officer in Grand Turk.

What is Voluntary Counseling and Testing? Voluntary Counseling and Testing is a process which includes pre- and post test counseling and is the foundation for early access, to preventing the spread of HIV for persons who have tested HIV negative, as well as making available support, care and treatment, for persons who have been tested HIV positive. This process plays an essential role at different levels, that is at the individual, the family and at the community level:

Benefits to the Individual On the one hand, clients, who have received pre- counseling and have tested HIV negative would feel empowered; during the post -counseling period, they will explore various health - enhancing options, to help them adopt safer sex practices, to support their HIV negative status.

On the other hand, persons tested positive would find the post counseling stage an enabling period, where plans for the future are made so that they can live healthier and longer lives. These plans will include the availability of and accessibility to antiretroviral drugs, the benefits of a balanced diet, exercise and safer sex practices.

Benefits to the Family Voluntary Counseling and Testing helps persons who are not infected and those who are infected, to plan for future relationships and also to enhance faithfulness among their partners. Persons who are infected have access to support, care and treatment to enjoy healthier and longer lives so that they can seek employment, in an effort to support and take care of their families.

In the Community The picture, for persons living with HIV/AIDS as painted by the community is that of gloom and doom. HIV/AIDS is viewed as a disease where persons become very ill, suffer and die. This can be changed to a picture of hope, as persons who are infected and have received post- test counseling, access treatment and care resulting in more fulfilling lives. This helps in reducing the stigma of the disease and in turn helps to reduce the transmission of the virus.

As stated the benefits of knowing your HIV status are numerous, persons are therefore recommended to seek voluntary counseling and as a result, can be informed of their HIV status, in an effort to explore the necessary life style options, offered, which can contribute to their well being, whether they are HIV negative or positive.

Keziah Richards- Nash
Asst. Coordinator/ Program Officer