Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to establish an HIV status is not provided directly by Wola Nani.

If you would like to find out your HIV status you can visit your doctor or a local clinic. In South Africa, patient confidentiality around HIV means your doctor can not discuss or disclose your HIV status to anyone else without your prior permission.

However, if you would feel more comfortable, there are a number of freely available services providing discreet and confidential counselling and testing that you can access.

CACTAS – City AIDS Counselling, Testing and Support Centre

The CACTAS Centre was set up to provide a confidential counselling and testing facility in the City and thereby fill a gap in the previously existing service. It is a City project in collaboration with the Methodist Church of South Africa, Wola Nani and the City of Cape Town Health Department.

The Centre is located at 46 Church Street in Cape Town (next to African Image), offering voluntary counselling and testing services free to members of the public. Counsellors and testers have been specially trained to render a high quality of service in a caring and supportive environment.

Information and literature on issues surrounding HIV / AIDS are provided and on-going emotional support through counselling and support groups are available, through the relationship with Wola Nani.

After VCT has taken place, CACTAS aims to refer the person to a clinic close to their home where they will be able to access a full follow up service of support.

For an appointment, contact

CACTAS Centre
46 Church Street
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 422 5219

Email: tlpaker@iafrica.com

CACTAS are also available to visit premises and provide on site VCT as required.

For further information please contact the Centre Manager, Malia Parker.

What to expect
The appointment will include both pre- and post-counselling and a rapid test.

Pre-Counselling

The pre-test counselling is carried out to help the person consider how they might respond to a positive diagnosis. They need to consider who they might tell, if there is someone they can trust, who might be able to help look after them. A range of questions concerning lifestyle, behaviour, implications of a positive result for work, family and their partner are raised and discussed.

The counsellor will advise how HIV affects the body, life after the test, issues around re-infection, how positive and proactive steps, such as diet, exercise and stress free living, can be taken to live healthily should the test prove to be positive.

The Test

Adults are provided with a rapid (Abbott) determine test. A small pinprick is made and a droplet of blood drawn to apply to the test. It takes about 15 minutes to determine a result.

Attendants will also be offered the opportunity to take up a secondary confirmation test if they wish.

If the result is positive the person will be referred to a clinic for a full blood test.

Post-Counselling

Post counselling takes place even if the result is negative. It provides an opportunity to educate the person about the risks of HIV infection and how they can protect themselves in the future.

(VCT is also available for children at CACTAS.)

ATICC – Western Cape AIDS Training Information & Counselling Centre

Voluntary counselling and testing available to the public, with results in the same day.

Please contact Tel: 021 797 3327 for an appointment.

ATICC
1st Floor, Lady Michaelis
Timour Hall Road
Plumstead