Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)
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The HIV/AIDS epidemic has matured over the years and employees should have access to care, support and treatment at all times. Therefore, a shift towards wellness of employees is in line with current health trends.
HIV/AIDS is estimated to affect 28.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Without effective intervention, the HIV pandemic could have a devastating effect on Southern Africa's economy and workforce. And yet, despite negative reports, it is possible to manage HIV-infected individuals to the extent that they can lead healthy, productive, longer lives.
One of the crucial components of a well-designed, comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy is a widely supported VCT campaign. Our VCT offering is the entry point to corporate HIV/AIDS programmes and all future interventions depend on its successful execution.
Metropolitan Wellness offers VCT in two ways: onsite at the workplace and offsite, through its extensive national network of accredited pharmacies. The two options will increase access to all employees who require convenient, confidential and anonymous testing within and outside South Africa.
Voluntary counselling and testing campaigns are aimed to:
- Offer individuals the opportunity to receive counselling and also to know their status.
- Offer counselling to everyone regardless of the outcomes of the results.
- Motivate HIV-negative individuals to modify any risky behaviour.
- Adopt preventative measures, as necessary, for individuals with negative results.
Benefits to an organisation
Reduced interruption of daily processes by empowerment of employees to taking care of own healthcare costs
- Improved productivity
- Improved staff morale
- Showing that the employer cares
- Reduced cost of death benefits and funeral costs
- Reduced cost of training and recruitment
- Reduced absenteeism
- Reduced employee incapacity due to illness