This unit provides Bayelsans and the general public (individuals, couples and groups) an opportunity to identify risk behaviors and understand circumstances that put them at risk of HIV, learn their HIV sero-status, and develop a plan to reduce risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV to others. Through referrals, HCT helps clients to access preventive, medical and psychosocial support services. Information services on HIV/AIDS and other diseases that can be transmitted through sex and unscreened blood transfusion are also provided to our Clients e.g. Hepatitis.  The BLHA are attached to HCT for proper administration and to achieve a common goal.

In general Counseling is a confidential dialogue between a counselor and a Counselee, aimed at enabling the client to cope with stress and take personal decisions related to his/her problem. With the consent of the client, counseling can be extended to spouses, sex partners, and other persons considered important by the client.

As long as HCT is part of the strategy for prevention, treatment, care and support, it is of great advantage to the individual, partners and groups who accessed it and the community at large.

The primary public health functions/importance of HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing are to:

1. It provides Practical and emotional Support: people who know about their HIV status are better, able to cope if they have access to follow-up support from well trained HCT counsellors. The counsellors can give emotional support to help them to cope and live positively with the infection. Also, the counsellor can refer the person to support groups and other forms of practical help within the community. The family members must also show maximum support to the infected person (s).

2. It helps in the prevention of HIV Transmission: HCT assist individuals infected with HIV to avoid infecting others. The infected person can make conscious effort to protect him/herself and sexual partner who may be infected. Those who test negative can be counselled about how to avoid infection or stop risky behaviours.

3. It helps Couples planning marriage or re-union in decision making. Because of high HIV prevalence, each member of the couples planning to get married may be worried getting infected by his or her partner once they get married and begin to have sex without using condoms. In a situation like this, HCT could help such a couple to alleviate such suspicions;

4. It encourages positive living: People with HIV can be assisted to live positively, where HCT is part of a comprehensive programme of counselling, education, support and care.

5. Help uninfected individuals to initiate and sustain behavioural changes that reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV; assist individuals infected with HIV to avoid infecting others.

6. It can provide better health and medical treatment: Someone who takes the test may be motivated to reduce the risk of transmission for him/her and others. He/she is more likely to seek prompt and effective treatment for opportunistic infections and this will help him/her to remain well. He/she can seek advice about good nutrition and take better care of him/her general health. He/she could also access antiretroviral drugs.

7. For informed decision making: if people know their HIV status, they can be more informed and can make decision about their sexual lives, whether or not to have children or even to have children they can undergo counselling to prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission, if tested positive.

8. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) among HIV positive couples. SACA has formed collaborative partners with Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa, Niger Delta Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, General Hospital Otuasega and other health facilities in the State. HIV positive couples could adopt use of contraceptives to avoid pregnancy thus reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission. However, it is advisable for the pregnant women to go for HIV test to know their status and thereafter, if they tested positive, they commence Antiretroviral therapy before delivery and after delivery both Mother and the Child (ren) continue with the ARV therapy. For the child after a particular period to be stated by the Doctor or Counselor, he/she stops the ARV; this will eventually prevent Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS.

9. Couples with discordant HIV results. This is a situation whereby one’s HIV test result is negative while his or her sex partner’s HIV test result is positive. A couple in this situation can adopt condom use as a means to protect the uninfected partner.

10. In settings where Anti-retroviral therapy and/or preventive prophylaxis will be available (e.g. antenatal clinics, STD and TB clinics, general medical clinics), HCT serve the function of bridging the gap between HIV prevention and treatment.

11. HCT is essential in an occupational exposure situation to determine if one has been infected through an accidental needle stick and in case infection occurred then one can start HIV therapy.