Make HIV testing free and universal
Feb 17, 2009
Over, 1,000 couples in Kampala turned up for HIV testing ahead of Valentine’s Day celebrations. The reason they were able to test in such large numbers in a single day is that the test was made available and free.
Over, 1,000 couples in Kampala turned up for HIV testing ahead of Valentine’s Day celebrations.
The reason they were able to test in such large numbers in a single day is that the test was made available and free.
Their turn-up is an indication that many people would like to know their status but are often limited by access and costs. To-date a majority of Ugandans do not know their HIV status yet HIV counselling and testing has been proved to be a major tool in preventing HIV spread.
When people know they are HIV-negative they become more determined to protect their status. On the other hand those who test positive can be helped to live longer as starting treatment early is important in sustaining ones life.
Counselling and testing, therefore, is a vital life-saving service that should be made freely available, not just on special days like Valentines, but all year-round and throughout the country.
The findings of the Modes of Transmission study conducted last year indicate that incidence of HIV is rising, especially among married couples aged 30 – 40. Whereas the ABC strategy encompassing abstaining from, sex, being faithful or using a condom reduced HIV infection rates from the late 1980s, the resurgence is an indication that new weapons are needed against the epidemic.
Strategies like free, universal voluntary counseling and testing should be promoted in addition to ABC.
At the moment, most Ugandans need to travel tens of kilometres to find the nearest facility where they can receive HIV counseling and testing.
This is absurd. The services should be made available at the sub-county health centres countrywide and free of charge. Most Ugandans are peasants who live in rural areas and many would rather not take a test than spend a few thousand shillings transporting themselves to the testing facilities.
We should not continue with a situation where thousands of people want to know their HIV status but are unable to take a test.
The reason they were able to test in such large numbers in a single day is that the test was made available and free.
Their turn-up is an indication that many people would like to know their status but are often limited by access and costs. To-date a majority of Ugandans do not know their HIV status yet HIV counselling and testing has been proved to be a major tool in preventing HIV spread.
When people know they are HIV-negative they become more determined to protect their status. On the other hand those who test positive can be helped to live longer as starting treatment early is important in sustaining ones life.
Counselling and testing, therefore, is a vital life-saving service that should be made freely available, not just on special days like Valentines, but all year-round and throughout the country.
The findings of the Modes of Transmission study conducted last year indicate that incidence of HIV is rising, especially among married couples aged 30 – 40. Whereas the ABC strategy encompassing abstaining from, sex, being faithful or using a condom reduced HIV infection rates from the late 1980s, the resurgence is an indication that new weapons are needed against the epidemic.
Strategies like free, universal voluntary counseling and testing should be promoted in addition to ABC.
At the moment, most Ugandans need to travel tens of kilometres to find the nearest facility where they can receive HIV counseling and testing.
This is absurd. The services should be made available at the sub-county health centres countrywide and free of charge. Most Ugandans are peasants who live in rural areas and many would rather not take a test than spend a few thousand shillings transporting themselves to the testing facilities.
We should not continue with a situation where thousands of people want to know their HIV status but are unable to take a test.