Kumi woos residents with 'moonlight HIV testing'

By Charles Achoda

Kumi district has introduced a strategy called moonlight testing which allows residents to test for  HIV/ AIDS at night.

The District Health Officer Kumi, Dr. John Opolot said  the strategy is aimed at increasing the numbers of people enrolling for HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services.

“This is an activity we carry out at night to encourage even those who fear testing for HIV/AIDS during day time”, Opolot said.

Opolot said the strategy was designed after they realized that most people in the district don’t go to health units for HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services during day time.

Opolot said they will soon roll it out across the district.

“With this we believe that we shall reach out to many people in the district and be able to know the HIV/AIDS status of the district”, Opolot said.

He said in the first attempt, they were able to test over 2,500 people in only two nights.

According to the available reports, Kumi district has population of over 258,073 people and of those 11,871 are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS amounting to 4.6% as compared to national percentage of 7.3% HIV/AIDS prevalence.

The district chairperson Kumi, Ismail Orot welcomed the strategy but said it should be rolled out cautiously.

Kumi  district speaker Victor Opeede said the strategy was a big step in fighting HIV/AIDS.

“This is good strategy because it enables a person to get to know his or her HIV/AIDS status without being noticed. We are proud of this and we shall continue supporting it’, Opeede said.