HIV testing without treatment? (10)
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Hi,
In response to Pamela's posting on the above subject I would like to
caution that we have a responsibility to read deeper into responses
provided by rural communities. Trust in the ability of the health
sector to provide support to people who go for HIV testing could be
emanating from the fact their in their experience, the clinic is
their only source of hope.
While counselling on all the key issue that you highlighted is use-
ful, the reality is that counselling cannot stretch beyond providing
information about the ideal that is neither available nor accessible
to this type of communities. Should these women test positive and re-
quire to adjust their diet accordingly, would the clinic be able to
provide such nutrients? Should they require treatment for opportunis-
tic infections, are the clinics able ready to cope with such demand?
There is enough evidence of how limited the "medical" model can be as
a response to HIV/AIDS
I am just concerned that we should not allow superficial responses to
taint our judgement when trying to balance the risk versus benefits
Regards,
Nonhlanhla Makhanya
Manager - Research Programme
South Africa
Tel: +27-31-307-02954
Fax: +27-31-304-0775
Cell: +27-8249-54157
mailto:jabu@healthlink.org.za
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