ARV treatment fact sheet 03: testing and counselling

ARV treatment is becoming more widely accessible. It is now accepted that people with HIV, their families and communities have an important role to play alongside health workers in ensuring effective and sustained treatment. They should be involved not only in preparing for ARV treatment but also in supporting the life-time commitment that this involves.

The Alliance is developing a set of fact sheets and participatory tools to support community engagement for antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. The aim is to provide NGO/CBO staff with tools and information to support PLHA and their communities on ARV treatment. They are based on experience in supporting treatment programmes in several countries.

This fact sheet summarises what HIV testing and counseling are, and the ways in which they are related to ARV treatment, including testing in order to access treatment and the importance of having ARV treatment accessible in order to encourage people to find out their HIV status.