Free HIV testing, which was organized in cooperation with the NGO "CAZAS" at the beginning of March on the occasion of the National HIV Testing Day, was used by two citizens at the Bar Health Center, and counseling services were used by three of them.
This is what the doctor at the Bar Health Center told "Vijesti". Ljiljana Jovićević, specialist in epidemiology and coordinator of the counseling center for voluntary and confidential HIV testing.
"In addition to extended testing within the institution itself, in cooperation with the NGO 'CAZAS', counseling and testing were organized in the premises of the drop-in center of that organization," Jovićević said.
As she said, clients or patients can come to the Counseling Center of the Bar Health Center on their own initiative, if they want to check their HIV status, due to travel to certain countries and with the guidance of a primary care physician.
"Testing can be anonymous, when a specially designed code is entered for the client or, if the client requires it, personal data is entered," she said.
Jovićević said that testing is done with rapid HIV1/HIV2 tests of the latest generation, which are highly specific and sensitive. A positive result, she added, on these tests is preliminary and requires confirmatory testing at the HIV Counseling Center of the Public Health Institute.
Counseling after the test, according to her, implies communicating the results clearly and without circumlocution.
"If it is a positive test result, while providing enough time for the client to accept the result and react to it, the counselor will precisely explain to the client that it is a preliminary test and that it is necessary to do a confirmatory test at the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro", she said. .
In addition to HIV counseling and testing services, the Counseling Center distributes informative and educational materials promoting the continuous use of condoms as one of the most effective preventive measures in preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
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