In a continued effort to contribute to Uganda’s goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, ROM working alongside the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the Ministry of Health, conducted a five-day HIV Rapid Testers Certification Training from 23rd to 27th February 2026.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal is to guarantee that by 2030, 95% of all individuals living with HIV will be aware of their HIV status, 95% of all diagnosed HIV cases will receive ongoing antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those undergoing antiretroviral treatment will achieve viral suppression. As such, it is prudent for the country to have testers with the skills and knowledge that contribute to the realization of these global health community targets.
The training, held at ROM in Mbuya, brought together healthcare workers from across Kampala, including laboratory personnel, nurses, clinicians, counsellors, peer mothers, Youth & Adolescent Peer Supporters, and HTS supporters from partner facilities; reflecting the wide range of cadres involved in HIV testing services.
Following the national HIV rapid testing curriculum and combining classroom learning with practical demonstrations with supervised practice, participants showed clear improvement in both knowledge and skills. Those attaining the 80 % 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 % threshold by the end of the training. 13 participants, representing 76.5 %, were assessed as fully competent to conduct HIV rapid testing, compared to none at the beginning, reflecting the effectiveness of hands-on training approach.
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 plus a certificate of completion from the Uganda Virus Research Institute HIV Reference Laboratory.
ROM will continue to support the trained testers through onsite mentorship and preparation for national certification assessments to ensure consistency in service delivery and maintain the quality of HIV testing across supported sites.
