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Danisa Masuku/Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
THE introduction of self-testing HIV kits in the country will target the a�?key populationa�? comprising sex workers, artisanal miners (omakorokoza) and truck drivers considering their mobility and reluctance to go to testing centres.
There is a pilot self-testing programme being undertaken in the country whose results will determine if and when the programme would be rolled out and with what checks and balances since it is a new area.
Speaking to journalists at a media update on HIV and Aids workshop which was held recently in Bulawayo, National Aids Councila��s Bulawayo Provincial Aids co-ordinatorA� for Bulawayo province Sinatra Nyathi, said sex workers were highly mobile and such self-testing kits would be of benefit to them.
a�?Sex workers are not easy to find as they move from place to place in search of money as such most of them are not tested so in that regard self-testing kits will be of benefit to them.
a�?We have noted with concern that illegal miners as well are very mobile as they move from one place to another in search of gold. So in that case it becomes difficult for the health practitioners to test them for HIV and Aids. I believe self-testing kits will be of benefit to them given that they dona��t have time to go for HIV and Aids testing,a�? said Nyathi.
Nyathi said teenagers were also among the key groups which did not want to get tested.
a�?Most of the teenagers dona��t want to get tested because they are afraid of stigmatisation. To counter that if a parent buys a self-testing kit that will go a long way as parents will be able to test their children at home and provide counselling services for them,a�? said Nyathi.
Nyathi said cross-border transport drivers were also difficult to test.
a�?Haulage truck drivers move from city to city and country to country due to that they dona��t get time to get tested so ita��s easier for one to acquire a self-testing kit and do the testing at his leisure time,a�? she said.
Online Reporter