From June 8-10 the Capacity Project participated in Namibia’s National Testing Days, drawing on the opportunity to promote the Project’s voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) activities.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services coordinated the event, created to address the need for increasing coverage of testing. Currently there is low utilization of VCT (16.6% of males and 28.6% of females reported prior testing, according to the 2006 DHS). Due to successful outreach efforts, media participation and extended hours, the National Testing Days attracted over 33,000 people, far exceeding the target of 12,000 set for those three days. The event allowed many Namibians to learn their HIV status and receive counseling, while NGOs, development partners, private sector and civil society organizations were able to promote their services.

Since October 2007 the Capacity Project (through the New Start Network) has provided VCT services to 40,600 new clients; there are currently 17 centers (11 stand-alone and six facility-based).

August 2008