The National AIDS Secretariat is strengthening and enhancing its capacity to conduct Rapid HIV Testing in the country.{{more}}

To this end, NAS began a three-day training workshop on Wednesday, October 17, that provided the requisite skills to the twenty participants who attended the session.

Some 18 community nurses participated, as well as two staff members from the Secretariat. This will enhance the capacity of the various health centres throughout the country to provide Rapid HIV Tests and make the services more readily available in local communities.

This week’s training is coinciding with the current NAS initiative which is introducing the service to communities throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The service has already been launched in Sandy Bay, Calliaqua and Bequia and moves to Clare Valley next week.

The Rapid Test Training is being conducted by facilitators from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre -CAREC and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital Laboratory. It was held at the Youth Department Conference Room and ends today.