BACKGROUND

The first VCCT Centres in Cambodia were established by the Ministry of Health with assistance from French Cooperation between 1995 and 1997. These first centres were at:

• The Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh (established 1995)

• The National STD Clinic in Phnom Penh (established 1996)

• Preah Bath Norodom Sihanouk Hospital in Phnom Penh (established 1996)

• Kampong Cham Province (established 1996)

• Battambang province (established 1996)

• Health Centre No. 1 in Siem Reap Province (established 1996)

• Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh (established 1997)

• Sihanouk Ville RH (established 2000)

Since then, by the end of 2003, another 51 have been established; 30 of these are managed under the NCHADS programme, through Provincial AIDS Offices, and 16 are managed by NGOs. 21 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces now have a VCCT service.

VCCT is an important element in the Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS and STD Prevention and Care 2001-2005. It is a key element in the Continuum of Care Framework, and has been further emphasized in the updated Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS and STD Prevention and Care 2004-2007.

In December 2002 the official ‘Policy, Strategy and Guidelines fir HIV Counselling and Testing’ was approved by the Ministry of Health, and published. In January 2004 the ‘Guide for Implementation’ for VCCT was produced by NCHADS to provide personnel working in VCCT with critical information for providing services.

Under updated Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS and STD Prevention and Care 2004-2007 it is planned that a further 70 VCCT services will be established over the next four years (2004-2005-2006-2007). These Guidelines have been developed to help both provincial and NGO staff in establishing these new services, and in maintaining effective and efficient services.

Terms of Reference

• To develop and disseminate policies, strategies, practical frameworks and guidelines for the implementation of VCCT services within the Continuum of Care in Cambodia

• To plan for, coordinate and supervise the appropriate scaling-up and expansion of VCCT services

• To identify the needs, and ensure availability of equipment, reagents and consumables for VCCT services

• To monitor, evaluate and report on VCCT services using the NCHADS M & E system, to improve the quality of services

• To provide technical assistance to other institutions/agencies in implementing and scaling up VCCT services

• To coordinate through appropriate mechanisms with other institutions/agencies in implementing VCCT services to ensure effective allocation of resources for expanding VCCT within the health system

• To facilitate and ensure capacity building of health staff in VCCT services.