Online HIV testing

UCT's organisational health department has teamed up with Cell Life to offer staff web-based bookings for HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) sessions, held at Cambria House.

Good news is that staff can attend these sessions every Friday until March 18. Thereafter the service will be offered on the last Friday of each month, as in the past.

The web-based bookings can be made from March 7, when the service will be activated.

Organisational health manager Ottoline Clapham said: "We've had a poor response from staff to the testing service and we're hoping that the web-based booking service will encourage people to have the test and know their status. That way we can help those who test HIV positive manage their medication and health. And those not positive know their status and add to UCT statistics."

Antiretrovirals are reported to boost health and life expectancy, in many cases well beyond the levels experienced by people living with other chronic diseases.

The Cell-Life initiative is a collaboration between UCT, the Cape Technikon and the corporate sector. For information and bookings, visit www.cell-life.org, choose the "LOG IN" option, and then choose "Cape Town: Uni of Cape Town (UCT)" or alternatively to enter online VCT bookings directly visit www.cell-life.org.za/uct)

Please note that the next Wellness Week for staff will be held from April 13 to 15. So mark the days in your diary. There are bound to be some interesting exhibitors.