In a continued effort to contribute to Uganda’s goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, Reach Out Mbuya (ROM) Community Health Initiative, working alongside the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and the Ministry of Health, conducted a five-day HIV Rapid Testers Certification Training from 23rd to 27th February 2026.
The training, held at the ROM Training Boardroom in Mbuya, brought together 17 healthcare workers from across Kampala. Participants included laboratory personnel, nurses, clinicians, counsellors, peer mothers, Youth & Adolescent Peer Support (YAPS), and HTS testers from partner facilities, reflecting the wide range of cadres involved in HIV testing services.
The sessions followed the national HIV rapid testing curriculum, combining classroom learning with practical demonstrations and supervised practice. Over the course of the training, participants showed clear improvement in both knowledge and skills. Those attaining the 80 percent pass mark in the written assessment increased from 6 at pre-test to 13 at post-test. Practical performance also improved significantly, with none of the participants meeting the required proficiency level at the start, compared to all participants achieving the 90 percent threshold by the end of the training.
By completion, 13 participants, representing 76.5 percent, were assessed as fully competent to conduct HIV rapid testing, compared to none at the beginning. This reflects the effectiveness of the hands-on approach and continuous guidance provided throughout the training.
Participants were equipped with key reference materials, including job aids, Standard Operating Procedures, and the National HIV Testing Algorithm to support their work in the field. Each participant also received a certificate of completion from the UVRI HIV Reference Laboratory.
ROM will continue to support the trained testers through onsite mentorship and preparation for national certification assessments. This follow-up is intended to ensure consistency in service delivery and maintain the quality of HIV testing across supported sites.
The training has strengthened the capacity of frontline health workers and improved access to reliable, high-quality HIV testing services within the community.