The role of dental practitioners in provider initiated HIV counseling and testing (PITC) for patients attending dental practices in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe introduced voluntary counseling and testing (VCT)in 1999 and the HIV counseling and testing services have since expanded to include provider initiated testing and counseling (PITC) as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).1'2 There should be routine offering of HIV testing and mandatory screening for HIV and diagnostic HIV testing unless the patient opt outs, in hospital locations such as emergency departments where persons who do not otherwise access HIV testing seek health care services.3 Thus it is imperative that health care workers who have initial contact with the patient are equipped with HIV testing and counseling skills so as to limit the referral of patients from one provider to another within the same health facility.