HIV testing and counseling, gateway to national development

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has had an unprecedented devastating impact at individual, household and community levels in Zimbabwe. An ill population is not good enough for national development. This makes it imperative for Government to ensure that citizens are assisted to hey along with this scourge, while at the same time contributing immensely to public interest.

Voluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) provides the opportunity for citizens to be aware of their HIV status with enhanced quality counseling support to help them to cope with a positive or a negative test result. It is critical to note that the majority of adult populations are HIV negative, even in high HIV prevalence settings. It is a prejudice to assume that people settling in high HIV prevalence areas are all positive.

Knowing that one is HIV negative can serve as a strong motivating factor to remain negative, particularly for those who may otherwise assume it is too late to adopt safer sexual practices. It allows for adoption of preventive measures which would inculcate responsible behavior traits which mitigate the spread of this syndrome which threaten to wipe out the global population.

For some, self-protection against infection is a stronger motivator for safer sex than the need to protect others. While for others, the responsibility to avoid continual spreading of the virus is itself the critical motivator. Both contribute to HIV prevention which would enable the growth of an HIV free generation.

By knowing one's positive status, HIV positive individuals may become more motivated to adopt more healthy lifestyles that improve their health status and slows the progression from HIV infection to symptomatic HIV disease and full blown AIDS. For example, avoiding further risks of infection with other viral strains and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), seeking early treatment for opportunistic and HIV/AIDS related infections, use of condoms to avert re-infection, eating healthy food, avoiding tobacco and reducing stress.

When one is aware of his/her HIV status as positive also provides an opportunity to protect one's sexual partners and to plan for the future from an informed position, such as, deciding on marriage and on child bearing, and preparing children and family for the progression of disease and death.

It is paramount to note that there are many HIV positive people who are living healthy and positive lives in Zimbabwe. These serve as strong and effective HIV/AIDS advocates and also provide valuable support and motivation for others infected with HIV and affected by the epidemic. The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare should be complimented for keeping society informed by their alliance with people who are living with HIV/AIDS. This category is helping to reinforce the ministry's mandate to keep the nation health. They have turned into formidable peer educators that are willing to share their first hand experiences with others.

HIV testing and counseling form the gateway to care, treatment and support for persons in need. To ensure that people can exercise their right to know their HIV status, and that people with HIV can benefit from increased access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment provided in the 3 by 5 Initiative, HIV testing and counseling must be radically scaled up, using innovative, ethical and practical approaches to delivery.

Testing and counseling services must become common-place in settings where those most likely to benefit from knowledge of their HIV status can be reached, such as services for tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections and acute medical care as well as antenatal care services. At the same time, people who want to learn their HIV status should have better access to voluntary counseling and testing in a variety of venues to mobilize enough force against this syndrome.

Information is power. After having been provided with sufficient information citizens are enabled to adopt informed consent, all patients can "opt out" of being tested if they do not want the test performed on them. It is fundamental to ensure that all testing and counseling should be accompanied by information on prevention of future transmission of HIV, whether the patient is infected or not. Lack of information normally to artificial calamities which are avoidable if people are empowered by provision of information.

Zimbabwe needs a health nation to enable meeting of our national aspirations. Make it your priority to get tested today and live a positive life in the post HIV testing era. Do not lose hope! HIV/AIDS can be controlled and managed to elongate human lives!