Media
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Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) – Zimbabwe

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Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) programe is a mobile outreach health service. The programme travels to about 20 rural and peri-urban locations, delivering medical services to people living outside the reach of stationary New Start centers.

The programme is targeted sexually active couples and high-risk STD/AIDS populations. It is focused on reproductive health, including family planning, STI management and AIDS prevention.
Communication Strategies
The project uses various media programmes including a youth-oriented radio programme, "From Me to You", a TV serial drama, "Studio 263" and a one-hour TV talk-show "This is Life" to educate target groups about HIV/AIDS through various mass media
Development Issues
Family planning, AIDS prevention
Key Points
"The aim of programmes is to provide an entertaining educational format and an arena for reflection and discussion of complex issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention and risk behavior."

The objectives of the mobile outreach services are:

a) To take VCT services to peri-urban and rural communities for easier, broader access.
b) To meet demand from locally identified areas where local population for such services has approached partner organisations.
c) To probe demand feasibility for a potential static site.

The organisers say that when compared with clients seen at static VCT sites, mobile outreach tends to attract more female clients, more clients above the age of 30, and significantly more HIV positive clients.
Partners

USAID, DFID, Coca-Cola, Zimbabwean Post Office and the Embassy of Japan.

Sources

PSI website on October 23, 2003