1. PRESENTATION TO:
PAHO/WHO ‘KNOW YOUR STATUS’ WORKSHOP, SURINAME
21ST -22nd APRIL, 2005
VOLUNTARY COUNSELING &
TESTING SERVICES IN
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Izola Garcia
Information and Communications Management
Officer, The National AIDS Coordinating Committee

2. VOLUNTARY COUNSELING &
TESTING SERVICES
 PRESENTED BY:
IZOLA GARICA
INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS
MANAGEMENT OFFICER, NACC,
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
 DATE:
THURSDAY 21ST APRIL, 2005

3. THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
SITUATION IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
 First reported HIV case was in 1983
 Up to the end of 2004, there have been 14,536
reported HIV cases (cumulative)
 At the end of 2003, it was estimated that there
were 20,000 people living with HIV.
 70% of infections occur between ages 15 to 49
years
 45% of new infections occur in females
 In the 15-24 age group, 70% of the new infections
occur in females
 Source: Ministry of Health, National Surveillance
Unit

4. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
OF VCT
 PMTCT 105 Health Centres
6 Hospitals (ALL)
 STI Clinics QPCC & C
San Fernando General
Hospital
5 Outreach STI Clinics

5. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

6. SERVICES PROVIDED
 Pre & Post test counseling- Maternal and Child Health
Clinics at Public Facilities
 97 % of attendees are offered counseling
 95 % of attendees are offered testing
 Pre & Post test counseling at STI clinics—100% of
attendees

7. USE AND DEMAND OF SERVICES
 Demand for VCT is high
 Adhoc outreach at health facilities is high. This is due to the
awareness of HIV/AIDS as a disease and the population wanting
to know its status
 Counseling and care are provided from nurses, doctors, medical
social workers, voluntary persons from non-governmental
organisations and faith-based organisations
 Unfortunately, many of those tested do not return for their
results. (confidentiality, time lag)
 Increased offerings at event-based and outreach VCT services.
E.g. World AIDS Day, Youth Day, Church fairs.

8. NUMBER OF PERSONS UNDER
ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT
PLWHAs TREATMENT & CARE ARV TREATMENT
TOBAGO
CHILDREN 20 14
ADULTS 90 70
EWMSC
CHILDREN *80 30
CYRIL ROSS 77 45
SFGH
ADULTS *307 300
CHILDREN *10 10
MRF 1981 1004
TOTAL 2565 1473
*estimated

9. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE
NEEDING ANTI-RETROVIRAL
TREATMENT
 3000-6000 persons
(15-30% of 20,000
estimated HIV
positive)

10. VCT INTO THE FUTURE OF
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
MEETING THE SOCIETY’S NEEDS
 Baseline surveys and other research to further
assess needs and trends
 NSP mandates free VCT services in every district
of Trinidad & Tobago
 NGOs and FBOs becoming increasingly involved
 Impending use of mobile VCT clinics to offer
service to rural areas and to provide greater
community access
 Formalisation of national media campaign to
support VCT
 Formalisation of National VCT policy

11. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
UNDIVIDED ATTENTION!