September 21, 2007

HIV Testing and Care, Right on Your Doorstep

A mobile HIV/AIDS testing and services unit is making treatment and care more accessible for HIV-positive people in India, reports the Newindpress.com.

Until now, some people from remote regions of Mangalore, a city on the western coast of India, have had to travel to clinics in order to receive care.

Mangalore’s branch of Population Services International (PSI), an international health care organization, is partnering with other organizations to take Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center (VCTC) services on the road to reach people who might have difficulty accessing care—with a particular focus on bringing treatment, information and services to women in the community.

‘‘Mobile VCTC with technical staff is willing to travel anywhere in the city and provide HIV testing’’ project manager Abhilash Philip said in a Newindpress.com article. ‘‘We decided to reach people instead of waiting for people to reach us.’’