Port Blair, June 30: Three days virtual training on Index Testing Services for counselor was conducted by A&N AIDS Control Society from 28th to 30th June, 2021. The counselor of all the ICTCs, Blood Bank, STI and ART Centre attended the virtual training. To achieve the UNAIDS target of zero HIV by 2030, the National AIDS Control Organization, GoI formulated a new HIV testing strategy. Index Testing Services is an effective strategy for identifying new cases of HIV. Index Testing is an effective approach to saturate HIV case finding by providing Index Testing Services to Sexual / Injecting partners and Biological children of people living with HIV. This in turn shall break the chain of HIV transmission in the community.
The training was virtually inaugurated by Dr. M.Joy, Project Director, A&N AIDS Control Society. The Project Director emphasized on the paramount importance of utilization of the digital platform in the pandemic COVID scenario. He also stressed to implement the Index Testing Programme to test the population who are hard to reach, unreached, never tested, vulnerable/ at risk.
The three days virtual training was imparted by Dr. PK Sikdar, AD (ICTC)I/c and Mr. Sankar Rao, AD(M&E). The training was technically supported by MsLakshya, Technical Offier (SRL),Smt. SujathaMalakar, DA and Mr. Aji. B, CLS under the guidance of NACO.