Cape Town – HIV self-screening is now available at 38 City of Cape Town Health facilities, with more than 13 000 people already opting for the assisted self-screening. ·
In a statement on Wednesday, the City said that in the past 12 months, the public health sector had introduced two new measures to encourage HIV testing.
Self-screening can be done through a finger prick test (Insti) or an oral swab test (Oraquick).
Index Case Testing (ICT) encourages those with HIV to get all ‘at-risk’ contacts (sexual contact, or young children and injecting drug partner(s) within the past year) tested for HIV.·
HIV self-screening allows individuals to do their own HIV test, either in the presence of, and assisted by a healthcare worker, or not.
Should an individual’s self-test be positive, they are recommended to undergo the usual HIV rapid testing by a lay counsellor or nurse at a healthcare facility, in accordance with the National HIV Testing Algorithm.
Between April and October 2022, 13 478 patients have had assisted HIV self-screening at City Health facilities, with a positivity rate of 2.3%.
Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, said: “It’s very encouraging to see clients responding to these new options available to them. Knowing your HIV status is empowering, because it allows you to make the right decisions for your health, but also protecting your loved ones.
I remind the public that HIV is essentially a treatable chronic disease, but treatment relies on testing. We understand that stigma remains a big challenge, which is unfortunate, because if we were more tolerant and accepting, more people would get tested.
“So, as part of the education and awareness around World Aids Day 2022, I also challenge one and all to check our prejudice, and be part of the solution,” said Van der Ross.
The 38 City health facilities that are offering assisted HIV self-screening are:
Albow Gardens, Bloekombos, Bluedowns, Crossroads 1, Delft South, Diep River, Dr Ivan Toms, Eastridge, Factreton, Gugulethu, Hout Bay Main Road, Ikhwezi CDC, Kuyasa, Langa, Luvuyo, Masiphumelele, Matthew Goniwe CDC, Mayenzeke, Mzamomhle, Philippi, Phumlani, Protea Park, Ravensmead, Saxon Sea, Sir Lowry's Pass, Site B Youth Clinic, Site C Youth Clinic, Somerset West, Spencer Road, St Vincent, Tafelsig CDC, Town 2 CDC, Vuyani, Wallacedene, Weltevreden Valley, Westlake, Westridge, Wynberg
Cape Times