HIV tests for Laventille

“Early diagnosis of HIV infection enables health care providers to counsel, refer to various support services and help prevent HIV transmission to others,” said Dr Ramindar Dhillon, a United Nations volunteer doctor, at the launch of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Programme (VCT) at the Centre, Espinet Street, yesterday. It is the second health centre offering rapid testing in the North West Regional Health Auth-ority (NWRHA). The George Street Health Centre VCT programme was launched last year.

Two tests will be done: a screening test and confirming test which take about 25 minutes. Dr Dhillon said they are 99.9 percent sensitive. She said if there are contradictory results, another test is available which lasts about 15 minutes.

Dhillon said prompt diagnosis of HIV can assist with slowing the decline in immune function and decrease the illness and mortality associated with HIV. She said preventive measures can be made available for infections which HIV-positive persons are prone to get such as tuberculosis.

She said a direct, non-judgmental and client centred approach will be integral to pre and post test counselling. Clients who receive positive results will receive counselling on site. They will also be referred to the Medical Research Foundation for further tests and follow-up.

Dhillion said, “A delay between a diagnosis of HIV infection and access to these services must be avoided.” She said this was important since clients faced a range of adaptive changes including, accepting the possibility of a shortened life span, coping with stigma and maintaining physical and emotional health.