Transcript HCT policy presentation

HCT Policy Guideline
Orientation
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Policy Vision, Mission and Aims
• Vision:. An enabling environment for HIV counselling and
testing, where the majority of people in South Africa are
knowledgeable about their HIV status, and able to act on this
knowledge to ensure an HIV-free generation
• Mission:To develop a sustainable, coordinated and integrated
National HCT Programme in partnership with other
stakeholders so as to expand access to and increase uptake of
HCT services with the aim of appropriate referral for those in
need of the continuum of care, treatment and support.
• Aims:
– To provide a National framework and guidance for the
provision of HIV counselling and testing services in the
public and private sectors in South Africa.
– To provide a framework for conducting HIV counselling and
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testing among adults and children.
Objectives of the Policy guideline
• The objectives of this policy guideline are to:
• Provide core requirements and guidance to ensure
the delivery of standardised, high quality, ethical HIV
counselling and testing services;
• Outline different types of HIV counselling and testing
approaches for different circumstances and target
groups;
• Ensure compliance with a legal and human rights
approach to HIV counselling and testing;
• Expand access to HCT beyond formal health-care
settings into community, private sector and nonhealth care environments; and
• Ensure appropriate referral to treatment
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C and T programme Objectives
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The HIV counselling and testing programme seeks to:
Create an enabling environment that promotes universal access to
safe, effective and good quality HCT services;
Encourage individuals, couples, families, and communities to test for
HIV in the interests of their own health;
Promote support for positive living, healthy lifestyles and good
nutrition;
Encourage and support the voluntary disclosure of HIV status and to
minimise stigma;
Facilitate referral and access to prevention, treatment, care and
support services following HIV testing;
Facilitate and promote integration of HCT with family planning (FP),
tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other
communicable and non-communicable diseases; and
Integrate affordable, feasible, accessible, safe, and sustainable HCT
services into the health system.
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Circumstances for HIV testing
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Individuals and couples
Pregnant mothers for PMTCT
Clinical diagnosis
Research and other screening purposes
Domestic violence and sexual assault
PEP
Court order
Abandoned babies
Pre requisite for MMC
Types of HCT
• CICT (VCT)
• PICT
• Process of HCT follows
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HIV Testing
• Must be ethical, based on human rights and
conducted within supportive environment and
be performed where there is adequate health
care infrastructure
• Trained health care worker (professional
nurse or doctor) must be responsible for
administering the rapid HIV test
– Human Tissue Act No. 65 of 1983
• Recommended algorithm: Serial as follows
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HIV Testing cont..
• Issuing of written results
– May be done at request
– Preferably: written letter clearly identifying the patient by
name, the date of the test, its outcome and the signature
and designation of the issuing provider.
– There should be a facility stamp on the document. It should
be emphasized to patients who test HIV negative that the
written results are a documentation of the results at that
specific point in time and are not a substitute for consistent
periodic testing.
• Frequency of testing:
– annual or more times depending on risk
• Mandatory testing not recommended except:
– Court order
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Core Ethical principles
• Counselling
• Informed consent
– VCT (CICT)
– PICT
• Illiteracy: right thumb
• Inability to make a decision
– Adults: National Health Act
– Children: Children’s Act
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Confidentiality and privacy
Shared confidentiality
Non discrimination
Infection control
HIV Counselling and Testing
for Children
• IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD
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Counselling
Informed consent
Testing
Confidentiality
• Considers relevant legislation
– Children’s Act, No. 38 of 2005
• Regulations on Sections 130-132
• PCR testing
– For children<18 months
• Alignment with new PMTCT guidelines
• Alignment with the new Paediatric HIV & AIDS Management
Guidelines
• Children>18 months are tested with rapid antibody tests
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HIV Counselling and Testing for
Children
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Provide access to the continuum of care and promote a child’s
physical and emotional welfare.
When the mother’s status is known and the child may have been
exposed to HIV.
When the status of the mother is unknown (and or her whereabouts
are unknown).
When the child may have been wet-nursed or breast-fed by a woman
whose status is unknown.
When the child may have experienced or been at risk of sexual
assault: PEP should be provided.
When it is in the best interest of the child that the HIV test will promote
the physical and emotional welfare where the child is being considered
for foster or adoption placement.
Per court order
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HIV Testing in infants
• Abandoned Children
• Health care workers can confer with each other and
consent for the child
• Establish exposure and facilitate prophylaxis
especially for placement and management of the
child
• Alignment with new PMTCT guidelines
• Alignment with the new Paediatric HIV & AIDS
Management Guidelines
• Refer to figure 3 and 4 for flow diagrams
• Abuse must be reported
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HIV Counselling and testing
of special populations
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Pregnant mothers: PMTCT: PICT
PEP: exposure at work
Survivors of sexual assault: PEP
Alleged sexual offenders
Male and female prisoners
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Quality Assurance
• All training service providers should be accredited by
SAQA
• Mentoring of counsellors should be done regularly
• Compliance to diagnostic procedures and SOPs
– All suppliers of the approved rapid HIV test kits should
provide training for all provinces on how to use the test kits
• All test kits on National Tender are evaluated by
NICD
• All new batches are evaluated by NICD before
distribution
• Formal laboratory-based quality control for test kits
– Internal (Product-specific)
– External (Programme-driven)
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Social Mobilisation
• Objectives
– Integrate HCT services into the primary health
care package.
– Create an enabling environment for HIV
counselling and testing.
– Facilitate support for positive living, healthy
lifestyle and nutrition.
– Expand access to HCT beyond formal health care
settings such as community and non-health care
settings.
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Target audience
• The main target audience for HCT communication is
sexually active men and women aged between 1549 years with special efforts to reach the following:
• Men
• Couples/sexual partners.
• Pregnant women and family planning clients
• Vulnerable and marginalized groups such as
commercial sex workers (CSW), Men sleeping with
men (MSM), migrants, intra-venous drug users etc.
• Men and women presenting with TB, STIs, OIs.
• Clients seeking PEP
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Key Communication Areas
• HCT Package
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Importance and benefits of early HIV diagnosis
Implications of the test outcome
Information on referral services
How and where to access services
• Mechanisms of communication
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Government campaigns
Community-based activities
Papers at conferences and in journals
Mass media such as television and radio, websites, social
networks such as twitter and face book
– Small media such as brochures and pamphlets
– Interpersonal communication and peer education
– Outreach in the workplace
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Monitoring and Evaluation
AIM:
• Ensure achievement of maximum health benefit for the
population served as well as improve the quality of services
offered.
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OBJECTIVES:
– Monitor progress on the provision of VCT services and
measure its effectiveness
– Identify gaps and weaknesses in service provision and
address them
– Inform planning, prioritisation, allocation and management
of resources for VCT services
– Maintain data and referral tracking systems in accordance
to existing systems
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Relevant Legislation
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The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996.
National Health Act No. 61 of 2003
Children’s Act No. 38 of 2005
Human Tissue Act No. 65 of 1983
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Medicines and Related Substances Act, Act 101 of 1965
Health Professions Act No. 56 of 1974
Pharmacy Act No. 53 of 1974
Nursing Act No. 50 of 1978
Basic conditions of employment Act No. 75 of 1997.
Public service regulations amendments, 2001
Occupational Health and Safety Act No.85 of 1993
Labour Relations Act No. 66 of 1995
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences & Related Matters)
Amendment Act No. 32 of 2007
This framework may not be exhaustive
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