LVCT provides HIV Counseling and Testing to US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
LVCT developed innovative strategies to increase the demand for uptake of HIV testing and counselling. ‘Celebrity Testing': that utilizes leaders to increase HTC uptake in target constituencies.
This was adopted following the testing of US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama by LVCT during the visit to Kenya on 26th September 2006. Kisumu and LVCT were honored as then Senator Obama visited his ancestral home and accessed a HIV test together with his wife Michelle at the LVCT Mobile VCT truck.
Many couples are reluctant of going for HIV testing and counseling, and this event provided an impetus. President Obama made a statement on the importance of couples accessing counseling and testing services together and supporting each other to attain their plan of action as discussed during the counseling session. In the 3 months that followed this event, LVCT had a 31% increase in uptake of HIV testing in Nyanza Province (the site for the testing) and 57% increase (11,074 to 17,366 tested) for all LVCT supported HIV testing activities across Kenya compared to 3 months prior to the testing event. During the US elections period, utilization of the poster to mobilize for HTC in Nyanza and HIV testing and counselling uptake increased by 82% in the week (from a high of 2,083 clients in a week to 3,795 in a week with the same number of counselors).
