With the goal of improving access to quality HIV
prevention services, including voluntary counseling and testing, the HIV/AIDS Twinning Center has established a south-south partnership linking Tebelepole VCT in Botswana with Kenya-based
Liverpool VCT.
The overall goal of the partnership is to strengthen the capacity of Tebelepole to provide quality HIV counseling and testing programs in Botswana.
Specifically, partners are working to:
- Improve organizational capacity as a means of
making HIV counseling, testing, prevention, care, and support services more readily available to
children and adults;
- Strengthen organizational capacity and quality of service by developing and implementing a quality assurance program;
- Develop a comprehensive Supportive Counseling Program; and
- Share experiences of Liverpool VCT
regarding implementation of an organizational
capacity building program for CBOs.
This partnership is working closely with a second, very similar VCT partnership that pairs the Botswana Christian AIDS
Intervention Program (BOCAIP) with the AIDS Support Organization in Uganda (TASO).
Liverpool VCT has trained and mentored Tebelopele
and BOCAIP in the establishment of post-test clubs.
The support has focused on developing post-test
protocols and procedures, including a proper exit
strategy for clients and improved linkages to existing support services.
Partners have also developed informational materials
for clients and are in the process of developing a
comprehensive supportive counseling program. This
has included a training-of-trainers for three Botswana partners and counselor supervision training for staff from BOCAIP, Tebelopele, and the Botswana Defense Force.
Upcoming activities include trainings on child and youth counseling, continued support and training on the
supportive counseling program, and training on
programming for sex workers and the deaf population.
Updated June 5, 2009
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