Roadtown, Tortola - A productive two day Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC) workshop for health and allied health care providers was held last week.
The August 18-19 workshop sought to enhance the skills and knowledge of those professionals to offer PITC, which will increase the level of holistic treatment and care, while providing increased opportunities for HIV testing and counselling, among other things.
National HIV Programme Coordinator Dr. Ronald McAnaney described the PITC as an invaluable process through which health care providers assess and develop prevention, treatment, and care strategies for clients.
“The PITC process supports holistic medical care and encourages discussions related to the total well being of clients. The technique has been especially beneficial in the prevention, treatment, and care of people with sexually transmitted infections – including HIV”, he said.
Facilitator for the workshop was Dr. Jennifer Stuart-Dixon of the Pan American Health Organisation and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre. Topics covered included “Identifying Challenges in Implementing Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling; Barriers and Benefits to Testing; Patient Education Strategies; and Giving HIV Test Results.”
“The workshop was very productive and timely. More and more we are finding that sessions like this one play a major role in equipping health care providers with the required skills to respond professionally and effectively when faced with matters related to HIV. The ministry welcomed it and is grateful to both the facilitator and sponsors of this important workshop,” said Dr. McAnaney.
Financial support for the just concluded workshop was provided by the Joint British and Dutch Overseas Territories European Union Project.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Virgin Islands.
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