News / Regional
'Men reluctant to go for HIV testing'
14 Jun 2014 at 07:12hrs | Views
MEN have been accused of being reluctant to go for HIV testing, derailing the fight against the pandemic.
This emerged during a Matabeleland North Province National Aids Council (Nac) meeting held recently at a Bulawayo hotel where participants and organisations were seeking ways to assist the province in HIV and Aids related issues.
A representative from Population Services International (PSI) said men constituted the highest number of people who were not testing for HIV.
"In the districts we operate in we have tested 2,776 people since January and out of those people 981 are men," he said.
NAC's Matabeleland North provincial Dingani Ncube said men's behaviour was worrying as it could result in re-infections on those who would have tested positive.
"This may result in clients failing to effectively implement their anti-retroviral treatment (ART) as they will not be having the support of their husbands," he said.
Ncube said there should be a change of mentality when it comes to matters to do with their health.
"Men need to change their behaviour when it comes to their health. It's up to them to change their ways," he said.
Ncube said men should support their wives to show that they are leaders in their communities.
"They should come out in the open and drive the process because women sometimes feel that they are not being supported. When one is on ART treatment they need someone to confide in. They need social support," he said.
Ncube challenged organisations dealing with HIV and Aids related matters to come up with ways that may be appealing to men like visiting them in bars and at soccer matches.
This stirred a debate in the meeting with others saying that men always draw back when it comes to matters to do with their health.
One of the participants said the other reason why men were not getting tested was that they were not in the country.
"Most of the men in those districts are outside the country and this could be the reason why there is a few of them testing for HIV," he said.
Another participant said men become defensive when they are told to go for HIV testing.
This emerged during a Matabeleland North Province National Aids Council (Nac) meeting held recently at a Bulawayo hotel where participants and organisations were seeking ways to assist the province in HIV and Aids related issues.
A representative from Population Services International (PSI) said men constituted the highest number of people who were not testing for HIV.
"In the districts we operate in we have tested 2,776 people since January and out of those people 981 are men," he said.
NAC's Matabeleland North provincial Dingani Ncube said men's behaviour was worrying as it could result in re-infections on those who would have tested positive.
"This may result in clients failing to effectively implement their anti-retroviral treatment (ART) as they will not be having the support of their husbands," he said.
Ncube said there should be a change of mentality when it comes to matters to do with their health.
"Men need to change their behaviour when it comes to their health. It's up to them to change their ways," he said.
Ncube said men should support their wives to show that they are leaders in their communities.
"They should come out in the open and drive the process because women sometimes feel that they are not being supported. When one is on ART treatment they need someone to confide in. They need social support," he said.
Ncube challenged organisations dealing with HIV and Aids related matters to come up with ways that may be appealing to men like visiting them in bars and at soccer matches.
This stirred a debate in the meeting with others saying that men always draw back when it comes to matters to do with their health.
One of the participants said the other reason why men were not getting tested was that they were not in the country.
"Most of the men in those districts are outside the country and this could be the reason why there is a few of them testing for HIV," he said.
Another participant said men become defensive when they are told to go for HIV testing.
Source - chronicle
