South Africans may soon be able to get an HIV home test kit to enable them to find out their HIV status in private.
The kit has the support of celebrity musicians including Bongani Fassie, Leslie and Ishmael.
The test is going to be piloted early next year to people living in Umgungundlovu district (Pietermaritzburg), which has the highest HIV rate in the country.
“Knowing your HIV status is the first step to both prevention and accessing life-saving treatment,” says Dr Krista Dong, who heads iTeach, an HIV and Aids organisation based in KwaZulu-Natal that will pilot the home tests under the guidance of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s bioethics committee.
“Everyone knows that testing is free and available at every clinic and hospital, but people don’t want to go to the local clinic where their aunt or cousin might work, or where their neighbour could be standing in line.
“A free HIV self-test, similar to a home pregnancy test, supported by counsellors accessible by cellphone, will empower patients to test in private when they are ready.”
Less than a quarter of South African adults have tested for HIV and only one in 10 people who need treatment are currently receiving it, according to researchers.
The home-test kit, designed by New York-based frog designs, has already won a gold award at the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards (Idea) competition.
Encouraging everyone to have an HIV test is a central message of this Aids Day, and President Jacob Zuma is widely expected to take a public HIV test on World Aids Day.
However, self-testing for HIV is controversial. In 2005, Pick n Pay recalled a home test kit after complaints by the SA Medical Association that it might be “harmful” to patients without post-test counselling.- Health-e News Service.