Regional Minimum Standards for Harmonised Guidance on HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) in the SADC Region

The review notes modest achievements in priority areas

Published by SADC August 2009

The SADC region bears the brunt of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, which is diverse with varying levels of adult HIV prevalence fuelled by behavioural, social, cultural, biomedical and economic factors. HIV remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the region.

SADC Heads of State and government made several commitments to fight the HIV and AIDS epidemic and other communicable diseases through the Maseru Declaration and other global commitments such as the Abuja Declaration, Maputo Declaration 2005, Brazzaville Commitment 2006 and Millenium Development Goals. Additionally, in order to implement some of the commitments, the SADC region developed the SADC Regional Prevention Strategy and Action plan to support Member States’ efforts to significantly reduce the incidence of new HIV infections with the ultimate aim of declining prevalence.

The review notes modest achievements in priority areas of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), condom use, management of sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV testing and behaviour change which have not been sufficient to reduce the incidence enough to turn back the epidemic.

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