What Works for Women and Girls

Chapter 6.HIV Testing and Counselingfor WomenGlobal consensus exists that “greater knowledge of HIV status is critical to expanding accessto HIV treatment, care and support in a timely manner, and offers people living with HIV anopportunity to receive information and tools to prevent HIV transmission to others. Increasedaccess to HIV testing and counseling is essential in workingtowards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, careand support” (WHO and UNAIDS, 2007: 5). There is alsowide recognition that the way HIV testing and counselingis undertaken is also critical and that there is an “urgencyto clarify and articulate—in clear rights-based, operationalterms—what is needed to ensure that people are able toobtain the full benefits from learning their HIV status for“HIV testing can and shouldbe expanded without disregardfor human rights.”(Jurgens, 2007a: 1).themselves and others; receive the best and most ethical care, diagnosis and treatment inhealth settings; and if positive, be supported to manage HIV infection, including preventionof transmission of HIV, and equipped to avoid, or seek redress for, stigma, discriminationand violence; and if negative, be supported through prevention strategies to stay negative”(UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights, 2007: 1).143