The Centre for Global Health Research, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER), successfully conducted a 2-day Online HIV Testing and Counselling Training (HTCT) Certification Program fromMay 15th –May 16, 2025. This specialized training was designed to build capacity among healthcare professionals working in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and blood banks—especially those accredited or seeking accreditation under NABL (ISO 15189:2022) and NABH.
The training was structured in alignment with the NABL-112A/B documents and guidelines from the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Government of India. It also covered critical aspects such as the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and legal and ethical considerations in HIV testing.
A total of 44 healthcare professionals—including Pathologists, Microbiologists, Biochemists, Medical Officers, and Pharmacists—participated in the program. Participants joined from a wide range of regions across India, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Assam, Odisha, and West Bengal.
The training featured expert resource persons including Dr. Pachamuthu Balakrishnan from MAHER, Dr. VHT Swamy and Dr. Srirama from Asha Kirana HIV Hospital and Research Centre, Mysuru, and Dr. Sree T. Sucharitha from the Adolescent Health Foundation of India, Chennai.
The program provided a robust platform for knowledge exchange, helping professionals stay up-to-date with current standards and practices in HIV testing and counselling. MAHER remains committed to supporting national health goals through impactful academic and training initiatives.
