HIV testing without treatment? (5)
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It is a good question you are raising: should we be encouraging HIV
testing when we cannot provide treatment, in some cases not even suf-
ficient support?
HIV/AIDS is generally known or referred to as a deadly disease. De-
spite a variety of encouraging messages we could be sending, the un-
derlying one is: do not get infected because there is no cure, and
because you will die soon if you are infected. We also know that
treatment (irrespective if its efficacy level, individual reaction
etc.) is very costly. I know, working as I am, I cannot afford it!
The question then is, what is in it for a person who goes for a test
because health workers have motivated strongly him/her to do a test?
Do people test because they suspect they could be HIV positive? Don't
we have people acknowledging their vulnerability to HIV yet using
condoms rather than opting for HIV test?
There are people who do HIV test frequently, as frequent as annually.
Such people usually do not use condoms. They test to reaffirm their
HIV-negative status, I suspect.
Of course everyone hopes for a negative outcome when testing, and at
times counselling does nothing to prepare one because when he/she is
convinced s/he is not infected nor at risk.
My feeling is that, unless people see themselves as being at risk, a
negative HIV test outcome will only serve to perpetuate the feeling
that they are not at risk, while results indicating the infection
could shatter their lives. Perhaps other people can learn from me if
I am infected and talk openly about it, but what's in for me? After
looking at the issue many times, I still fail to see the value of en-
couraging testing as a prevention mechanism. I am even disgusted by
politicians who suggest that members of parliament should do HIV
tests in public.
I strongly feel that one needs to be ready (from within) to do a
test. Pre test counselling attempts to establish one's readiness and
prepare him/her for any outcomes, but it is not always successful.
And if our drive is to get as many new people tested, will our coun-
selling not be biased?
Voluntary counselling has been available for a long time in SA [South
Africa] though not accessible to all, my worry is when community edu-
cators begin to advocate for testing. Can we leave HIV testing as an
option, not strongly motivate for it but highlight the pros and cons,
and be aware of our biases and work on them! In the process, it is
still important to strive for a better understanding and perception
of self as being at risk, good counselling, and a general de-
stigmatisation. Lets not in the process destroy people's hopes in
life.
Pebetse Maleka
mailto:pebetsem@hotmail.com
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