In September we had two seminars for adults: one for single parents, and one for mixed adults. One seminar was held from 3 to 9 September, the other from 24 to 30 September.
At the first seminar, someone asked what a normal CD4 count would be, for a healthy person who does not have HIV. I answered that it depends from person to person, there is no exact number. If people want to know CD4 counts for themselves, they can go to have them calculated. People also asked to know where the VCT centers are in Moba, and how many there are, so that when they go back in Congo they can know where to go and where to tell people to go for testing. I told them that I don’t know, but that we are trying to get more information about HIV/AIDS and treatment, including testing, in Moba.
At the second seminar, one of the students did not believe what I was saying about HIV transmission. The students said that he had heard on BBC that if you are on ARVs, you can’t transmit the virus to someone else. But I disagreed, because I know that if you are on ARVs, you can still transmit HIV. Anyway, I told them that the important point is to be safe and to protect yourself and others.
The employees are working well, but two of them repatriated this month. They are going back to Congo. Even some members of the support group repatriated this month. I advised the support group members that when they will reach Moba, they should go straight to the hospital for counseling and ARVs and to learn what different assistances are available to them in Congo.
I was trained this month for how to do HIV/AIDS testing through AAH. We were 10 people who were trained, 9 workers of AAH and myself. We had four days of training in the camp, where we learned in the classroom. The person in charge of VCT in Mporokoso came to lead the training. He reviewed basic information about HIV/AIDS and the VCT process, which involves pre-test counseling, the test itself, and post-test counseling. Then we went to Mporokoso for two days where we did the practical part of the training and tested people. I tested people, but none of them were positive. I was glad to be trained to do VCT because know I know more about the VCT program, so I can better educate people about it and really promote the VCT program.
