Image: Flickr
World Aids Day: New HIV testing strategies in Cape Town [watch]
This is encouraging. The City Cape Town municipality has used World Aids Day to introduce two new HIV testing strategies.
Image: Flickr
To mark Wednesday’s World Aids Day, the City of Cape Town has launched two new HIV testing strategies to help increase diagnosis and responsibility for one’s health. The plan was introduced on Wednesday.
WORLD AIDS DAY: CAPE TOWN’S NEW HIV TESTING STRATEGIES
Philiswa Mnyaka of the City’s Health and TB Unit confirmed the new Index Case Testing (ICT) and the Self-Screening (SS) strategies.
So what’s the real purpose? Mnyaka said the project is aimed at diagnosing persons who are living with HIV. Finding out one’s status will facilitate early treatment and healthier lives.
“The City is actively looking at new ways to find those people living with HIV who do not yet know their HIV status,” Mnyaka said.
“This year we are implementing two strategies, one Index Case Testing (ICT) which is encouraging those with HIV to get all ‘at risk’ contacts to be tested.
“Number two is encouraging HIV Self-Screening or HIV SS, which can be done at a facility or home at home.”
Watch the full video below…
WOMAN BECOMES HIV FREE AFTER EIGHT YEARS WITH THE VIRUS
A 30-year-old woman has been called a beacon of hope after her body cleared itself from HIV without any medication.
She was diagnosed with HIV in 2013. Eight years later, the virus is undetectable in her system. The woman whose identity has been withheld has reportedly not taken any medication to treat the virus over the years.
The “Esperanza patient” as she is being referred to as first tested positive for the virus in 2013. Daily Mail reports that she did not take any medication to treat the virus. She did however take ARVs for the first six months of her pregnancy. Read the full story here.
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