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National Week of Testing…
A couple receiving counselling before getting tested for HIV.
A couple receiving counselling before getting tested for HIV.
11,584 tested, 98 found to be positive
More than 10,000 persons were tested for HIV during this week, surpassing the target set by the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) for the National Week of Testing.
Given the number tested, the results indicate that the incidence of HIV is reducing in Guyana.
As at 18:00 hours last evening, a total of 11,584 persons were recorded as having been tested. The Week of National Testing began on November 17 and ended yesterday. Of those who were tested, 98 were found to be positive for HIV.
That would mean that just about one percent tested positive, and this is an indication of a reduction in the cases of HIV, Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, told Kaieteur News.
The Week of Testing was held under the theme “Take Action, take the test.” More than 200 testing sites were set up in all ten administrative regions of Guyana.
Programme Manager of the NAPS, Dr. Shanti Singh, pointed out that the National Week of Testing is a demonstration of the level of involvement now more than ever as it relates to HIV.
Dr. Singh added that, while a lot of people may still be in the dark as it relates to their status, the Secretariat, through its various mass media messages, has impressed upon the nation that knowing one’s status is as normal as doing a regular health check for any other health-related issue.
“People have come to realise that getting an HIV test is all part of a healthy lifestyle,” she said.
The Minister of Health said he was delighted that the target was achieved, despite some pessimism that he was being too ambitious in setting a target of 10,000.
He said that the success of the Week of Testing means that people are more and more seeing the importance of getting tested.
He said that it also means that some of the stigma associated with getting tested is being “dented.”
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