By Peter Saramba, The Citizen Correspondent
Arusha. Tanzania faces a mature, generalized HIV epidemic.
Among the 1.4 million people living with HIV/Aids, 70.5 per cent are 25 to 49 years old, and 15 percent are 15-24 years.

Other populations at high risk for HIV infection include people in prostitution, miners, police officers, prisoners, people in the transport sector, and the military.

There has been a recent increase in HIV prevalence among older age groups, with the HIV prevalence rate among women ages 30 to 34 reaching 13 per cent.

The greatest challenge facing the health sector is inadequate human resources to deliver quality health services to the Tanzanian population.

This may be the cause that saw 59 students from thirteen regions, expecting to graduate this year in November with Bachelor of Education with Guidance and Counseling at Mount Meru University, aim to be professional VCT counsellors .

Their graduation ceremony was graced by Arusha regional medical officer, Dr Toure Salash who was a witness when these students took oath not to unveil sensitive and personal information about their patients.

The students also confessed to protect confidentiality of clients by not disclosing any  information from them.
This training is jointly organised by the ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Aids Control Programme and Mount Meru University.

In his speech, Dr Toure congratulated the administration and appreciated their efforts.

He mentioned that, being a VCT councilor needs personal determination and commitment.

He suggested that the graduands  should work with stakeholders not forgetting the NGOs. The trainees were asked to prepare an action plan and work with youth to influence positive behavioural change in them.

It was insisted that fighting HIV is an  individuals’ responsibility. He proposed that the trainees should have commitment and adherence, and ensure proper supervision in all that they do.

Because they are trained professional teachers, Dr Toure urged every individual to increase the knowledge of fighting HIV in their respective schools.

“AIDS has no cure but it can be prevented. The first prevention is counseling a person on how this disease is transmitted to make people understand that when they protect themselves, they will not be infected,” he said.

He also pointed out that though some people have already been infected. “It is not right for us to isolate them, on the contrary we ought to help them know and understand their health, so that they can do the necessary regarding their condition,” he noted.

Dr Toure said, “the only way one can discern their health status is through a checkup. All people in our societies should be enticed to know their health,”

He observed that some people prefer not to know their health status and thus, the greatest responsibility of the graduands is to urge them to undergo testing by using the knowledge that they got during their intensive training.

Dr Toure promised to advise the ministry that this training should be taught ountrywide to all teachers.

“It will help and teach Tanzania as a whole,” he said adding that HIV is a cross cutting issue that wants all people to be soldiers in the fight against the disease.

One of the facilitators, Mr Hosea Naaman said the aim of the VCT training is to contribute to national efforts for  response towards HIV in the aspect of prevention, care and treatment and support through provision of client initiated voluntary counseling and testing services.

The graduates must make sure their  raining help the country  achieve MDGs target to end  6 communicable diseases since they will increase of the demand of delivery of VCT services in the country.

“These graduates will be able to provide both supportive and psychological counseling to the affected and infected clients and patients,” he said.

The participants prepared the knowledge and skills application plans to guide them during implementation of VCT services.  They will need support from their supervisors, co-workers and healthcare providers for the success of the entire VCT services.

The students’ representative showered praises to the course trainers for their commendable job. Top on the performance, according to the trainees were    Mr Naaman, Ms Judith Kipuyo and Ms Margareth Mnjema.
The trainees promised to work hard by adhering to ethics and code of conduct governing the VCT services the way they have been taught.

The students observed that being a VCT counselor and a teacher at the same time was not easy. Thus, they called upon the ministry of Health and Social Welfare to communicate with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to see how they can utilise the two vocations.

“The ministry should ensure proper supervision and see the importance of utilising VCT counselors and see how they can utilise Mount Meru University as a training centre for  counselors,” he said.

he representative .
“Well, if we are not infected we are defiantly affected. I wish you all the best as you can help Tanzania to become an HIV-free country bearing in mind President Jakaya Kikwete’s slogan,“Tanzania bila Ukimwi inawezekana”. And yes, indeed, we have to work to make this dream come true.

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