adminTendai Gukutikwa
SCORES of Mutare residents queued at Meikles Park, Mutare for free mobile HIV testing earlier this week as the world commemorated International World Aids Day.
Partnered towards the success of the day were Medicines Sans Frontieres, an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation, Simukai Child Protection Services, a local Non-Governmental Organisation and Progressio, an international development charity that enables poor communities to solve their own problems through support from skilled workers.
The NGOs organised the mobile HIV testing and counselling which was held at Meikles Park on Tuesday, something the team leaders described as commemorating the World Aids Day through awareness campaign.
Simukai Child Protection Services team leader, Mr Nathaniel Makedenge, said they were encouraging people to get tested and know their status as soon as possible so that they start a healthy living if they are found to be possessing the virus in their blood.
“The main reason for this testing is for everybody else to follow suite and get tested because the sooner you start your Anti-retroviral treatment, the better your chance of living a healthy, normal life with HIV. “Early testing helps in one to get early treatment which is why we have presented this as a treat to Mutare residents this World Aids Day by bringing the mobile free HIV testing to the CBD,” said Mr Makedenge.
He also stated that getting one’s blood tested would also help in prevention of further virus spreading and added that it was the reason why they were working hand in hand with the ongoing ICASA Conference.
“We are working hand in hand with the ongoing ICASA Conference. Fighting AIDS is everyone’s collective responsibility and therefore we urge everyone out there to come and have your blood tested so that you know the right way forward. “You can live a life with HIV, a positive result is nothing to be ashamed of,” he concluded.
In an interview, one of the tested Mutare residents, Mr Steward Murape, said it was important for people to know their status. Said Mr Murape; “I really wanted to get tested before, but I did not know where to go and what to do if I was to be found positive. Most people are ignorant of where to get tested and how to carry on with life after testing positive, as I was before. Today is a day for most people to get tested because the counsellors have come to us, in the comfort of own workplaces.”
Those who were tested in the mobile testing unit also stood a chance to win a T-shirt and a $10 Nandos voucher as they were automatically entered in a raffle that was also organised by the NGOs
Online Reporter