Free HIV testing available this week
(CNS Local Life): The Health Services Authority (HSA), the Cayman AIDS Foundation, and the Cayman Islands Red Cross have again joined forces to mark HIV Testing Week, which runs from today (25 June) through Saturday, 30 June. The activities being held this week are in support of National Testing Day and Regional HIV Testing Day observed on 27 June.
“Regional Testing Day has become a permanent fixture on the calendar of Caribbean countries for the past 11 years and has expanded to more than 21 territories, providing an opportunity for persons to ‘Know their status’ “, said nurse Laura Elniski, HIV Programme Coordinator at the HSA, in a press release.
While the US National and Caribbean Regional testing days will be observed 27 June and will focus on ‘Get tested. Share your story’, Cayman’s week of activities will be aimed at promoting heightened awareness of HIV testing and prevention after the completion and validation of the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Congenital Syphilis, EMTCT.
HIV Testing week provides an opportunity to educate the public about prevention and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as free testing to know one’s status, the HSA said in the release.
Testing centres will be operating across the Island. HSA Health Promotion Officer Therese Prehay says no appointment is necessary at the larger clinics and the waiting time for testing is usually no more than 10 minutes. The testing procedure involves a quick and simple blood test.
People who are seeking testing or counselling can indicate to the registration clerks that they would like to sign up for free HIV testing. The results will be available in three working days or fewer and will be given to the patient only, who must return to the clinic where the test was taken to get the results. This restriction has been set up to protect the confidentiality of the individual and to offer post-test counselling.
Category: Medical and Health
