Photo: PSI/Zimbabwe
A depiction of activities carried out under the New
Start VCT Rural Outreach Program.
“We decided to make mobile outreach the cornerstone of New Start’s initiative to expand access to VCT around Zimbabwe, especially to underserved populations in the rural areas. New Start took VCT to the people in large numbers last year.”
- Charles Szymanski, Deputy Director, PSI/Zimbabwe
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Initiative
The hallmark of USAID’s strategy to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe is the promotion of behavior modification among key high-risk target groups. Programs focus on social marketing of voluntary HIV counseling and testing. USAID is working with Population Services International, a provider of VCT services, through a national network of eighteen testing centers called “New Start.”
New Start provides skilled counselors, support staff, test kits, and promotional materials while collaborating with local partner organizations to provide community mobilization, space, and information on post-test services. In 2002, New Start launched its new mobile outreach program designed to benefit Zimbabweans residing in remote and rural areas.
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