Strengthening HIV Screening for Children Through Capacity Building

Workshop held 2 June, 2026

Published:

Group photo of meeting participants standing outside a building facing the photographer in a half moon cirle
Group photo of the participants in the workshop. Photo: UCB Communication Office

As part of the OPTIC-TB project, the Centre for Tropical Diseases and Global Health of the Université Catholique de Bukavu (UCB) , in collaboration with the Provincial Coordination of the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS), successfully organized a workshop on HIV screening among children under 10 years with presumptive tuberculosis.  

The training brought together healthcare professionals from six health facilities across four health zones in South Kivu, DRCongo: Kabare, Kadutu, Ibanda, and Bagira. Participants included Health Zone Medical Officers, TB and HIV program supervisors, hospital directors, head nurses, TB/HIV focal persons, pharmacists, pharmacy attendants, and laboratory technicians.  

The workshop provided an important platform to strengthen knowledge and share best practices for HIV screening in children under 10 years of age. Given the close relationship between tuberculosis and HIV, improving early HIV detection is a critical step  for the management of both diseases.  

Through initiatives such as this, OPTIC-TB continues to invest in strengthening local health system capacity while generating evidence that can help inform national and international health policies.  

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Provincial Coordination of the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS) for their guidance, collaboration, and valuable contribution in sharing key best practices for pediatric HIV screening in the DR Congo.

Collage with four photos showing participants in meeting room participating in workshop. In one scene, a man in a blue shirt is standing and talking, in hte others we see the audience.
Snapshots from the workshop. Photo: UCB Communication Office