Index Testing Campaign : New Initiative Targets Undetected HIV Cases in J&K and Ladakh
Srinagar 20th April 2024: Index testing campaign in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has been launched by Project Director, JKACS Dr. Abdul Rouf Bhat in order to reach out to the at –risk population with unknown HIV Status. This campaign will help in achieving the National goal of achieving the 1st 95 (95% People living with HIV should know their status). JKSACS has conducted a one day orientation cum training programme for all the ICTC, Targeted Intervention Projects/STI & ART Counsellors /data managers on Index testing and its reporting in SOCH portal on 20th April. The campaign was also launched in Jammu division by Dr. Manu Bhatnagar Additional Director, JKACS.
Index testing services (ITS), or partner notification services, is a voluntary case-finding approach where trained providers, with the consent of the HIV-positive client, focus on the elicitation of sexual and/or needle sharing partners and biological children of the client and offer them HIV Counselling and Testing Services.
Project Director JKSACS stressed upon all the facilities that index testing when implemented appropriately and safely, can identify undetected HIV infection earlier and link them to Antiretroviral treatment services, break the chain of transmission and linking HIV negative At-Risk population to comprehensive combination prevention services at TI, ICTC/STI/ OST etc.
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