Jagori

In addition to HIV research for over a decade, ICDDR,B has been leading the way in the response to HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh in the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services. Being a low prevalence country, efforts are focussed on HIV prevention in Bangladesh and the smaller number of people who are living with HIV/AIDS lack services. In 2002, ICDDR,B opened the first VCT centre to provide the full range of confidential and voluntary counselling and testing with quality control in Bangladesh, called Jagori. In just five years, Jagori services have been expanded to three key cities around the country and in 2007, several other organizations have more than fifty testing centres around the country.

VCT is a critical component of a comprehensive response to the HIV epidemic, providing entry points to HIV testing and promoting testing as a more routine practice. Counselling and testing services work to both determine people and populations who require care and treatment, as well as working as a key prevention technology. People attending Jagori are offered counselling to reduce any high-risk behaviours, such as reducing the number of sexual partners, increasing condom use, and safer injecting practices. People testing positive to HIV are taught how to prevent transmitting the virus to others.     

In addition to VCT, Jagori also provides clinical services.

• Primary health care, including management of sexually transmitted infections;
• Referrals to other specialists, such as antenatal care, skin specialists, and clinical psychologists;
• Management of post-exposure prophylaxis

As VCT is an entry point for care and support of people living with HIV or AIDS, clinicians also provide outpatient consultation, such as CD4 cell consultations, management of HIV-related opportunistic infections, nutritional counselling, clinical support for antiretroviral therapy, clinical counselling for adherence to antiretroviral drugs, anti-TB drugs, drug interactions and their management, and consultation regarding prevention of parent-to-child transmission of HIV. Jagori works closely with two HIV positive support groups in Bangladesh, referring anyone testing positive to HIV infection to services from either of these groups.

Other Jagori services include:

• providing training for counselling and clinical practice to other organisations upon request
• providing a supportive environment for people who identify themselves at risk for HIV
• documenting the HIV prevalence among people who identify themselves at risk for HIV
• contributing to the Government of Bangladesh’s passive case reporting for national HIV/ AIDS figures.

Jagori also works to promote a more positive community response to HIV and AIDS. Knowledge about HIV can stimulate discussion, thereby reducing stigma and discrimination. It encourages community action to address the issue, including the adoption of HIV/AIDS-sensitive policies.

For further information please contact the Jagori team.

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