Get tested in August

Another Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) campaign is planned for this month, this time not only on upper campus, but also at the medical school.

The Student Wellness Service, in collaboration with Human Resources Management Department, HIV/AIDS Co-ordination - UCT (HAICU), the Treatment Action Campaign and the Student Representative Council, has arranged another HIV VCT.

The free, quick and confidential service is open from 09h00-16h00 to students and staff, including contract staff. The first session (14-16 August) will be in the Jameson Hall, followed by a session at the medical school the following week (20-24 August).

In each individual session, staff and students will receive pre-test counselling by trained counsellors and a test administered by nurses (a RAPID finger-prick test in which a single drop of blood is taken). That's followed by a 15-minute wait for the results and post-test counselling by medical practitioners.

The last VCT campaign in March was a resounding success, said Dr Corinne Landon, head of Student Health Services. During the four-day campaign, 2 530 RAPID tests were performed.

Only 58 of these were for staff, though.

For more information, contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 1020, HAICU on 021 650 3599, or human resources on 021 650 3028.