By Gabriella Achieng’

From November 4-7, USIU-Africa’s Counseling Department in partnership with the Fall 2024 VCT Week Committee organized this semester’s Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) week. The theme of the event, ‘Level Up Your Self Love: Check Your HIV Status’, was a call to action aimed at raising awareness about the importance of knowing one's HIV status and taking proactive steps towards personal health and wellbeing. This theme guided the week’s activities, which included free HIV testing, counseling, and access to a wealth of information. The aim was to encourage people to get to know their HIV status and invite their friends to do the same while also reducing stigma surrounding HIV & AIDS through lighthearted and engaging activities. This worked well as the participants were encouraged to change their way of conversing on the topic through the use of more sensitive language and become more mindful of the way they expressed their opinions on the matter.

The event took place in designated areas where partners including DKT, Marie Stopes Kenya, Family Health Options Kenya FHOK), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)-Kenya and OraSure Technologies provided support. Their presence helped ensure that students had access to the resources and expertise needed to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. The partners also offered important health screenings, including free breast and cervical cancer screenings, which were an essential addition to the event’s scope given that breast cancer is the most common cancer whereas cervical cancer is the number one killer cancer among women in Kenya. Studies show that early detection plays a pivotal role in the success of treating both breast and cervical cancers. In addition to offering HIV testing, Marie Stopes Kenya and FHOK provided valuable educational resources on sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

The student community organized interactive and fun activities. One of the highlights was the creative use of expired condoms in demonstrations, where students had the chance to win various prizes. This was not only a lighthearted way to attract participation, but it also emphasized the ABCs of HIV prevention. Another engaging activity was the educational trivia on HIV & AIDS, designed to test and increase awareness among the USIU-Africa community. Students who participated in the trivia not only learned more about the virus and its prevention but were also encouraged to share their newfound knowledge with peers. Many returned in the days after with their friends to try their hand at winning the prizes which helped market the event.

The event’s success was driven by the collective effort and enthusiasm of the organizers, from the planning stages to execution. Through these efforts, VCT Week was able to create a space where students could learn, engage, and access critical health services in a supportive and open environment. This event also reinforced the university’s commitment to promoting a holistic approach to health, where mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing are all prioritized. More than 450 members got tested for HIV, 250 Oraquick self-test kits were distributed and 125 people were screened for breast and cervical cancers.