Men encouraged to know their status
Free HIV test at Charlestown Villa
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Nicole Slack Liburd, Acting Coordinator Nevis HIV/AIDS Unit |
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – OFFICIALS from the HIV/AIDS Unit and the Ministry of Health have called on men in Nevis to turn out in large numbers at the Charlestown Villa, where free HIV tests will be offered on Saturday June 14, 2008.
Acting Nevis HIV/AIDS Unit Coordinator Nicole Slack Liburd said the activity was a special treat for men on the eve of Father’s Day, which will be celebrated on June 15, 2008. “All of us are reluctant to test but women who get pregnant are strongly encouraged to test,” Liburd said and noted that there are no natural occurrences which put men in a similar situation.
Liburd told the male population on Nevis to lead in taking advantage of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to safeguard their health and that of their partners and families.
Last Tuesday night on the popular “Let’s Talk” radio talk show broadcast on VON radio, a panel held a lengthy discussion on the importance of VCT. The guests who formed the panel included: Acting
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| Nurse Eldina Farrell, Advanced Voluntary Counselling and Testing Counsellor and Trainer |
Coordinator Nevis HIV/AIDS Unit Nicole Slack Liburd, who is also the Health Planner; Dr. Judy Nisbett, Clinical Care Coordinator, Advanced Voluntary Counselling and Testing Counsellor and Trainer; Nurse Eldina Farrell; and Clester Roberts, Acting Laboratory Supervisor at the Alexandra Hospital. Moderator of the talk show was VON Manager, Everend ‘Webbo’ Herbert.
Dr. Nisbett said the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) had responded by ensuring that care and support are available for those who test positive. She encouraged men to know their status, “so they can respond to care, treatment and support available”.
She said educational sessions would be offered at the Villa and tests conducted would be out within two hours. Nisbett said stigma and discrimination against people who test positive continues to pose a major problem, but there was no way a person living with HIV could get medical assistance unless they underwent a HIV test.
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| Clester Roberts,Acting Laboratory Supervisor Alexandra Hospital |
“We encourage people to test so that they can plan for care and support. There are benefits when you test,” Liburd said. Nurse Farrell encouraged those who intend to go and be tested to cast aside their fears and assured that their status would remain private.
Responding to a caller who sought to know the persons who were mostly at risk, Nurse Farrell said, “If you are having unprotected sex or using intravenous drugs you are at risk.”
Other callers requested details of how confidentiality is guarded and Roberts explained the steps that are taken in doing so, noting blood samples taken are coded.
Dr. Nisbett told listeners that the earlier the test the better: “The earlier you are tested the better for you, because the immune system will not be depressed.” Dr. Nisbett said she has witnessed a decrease in stigma and discrimination over the years, and plans are underway to put in place specific legislation that protects persons living with HIV.
Callers who demanded that names of those who have tested positive be revealed, were told by the panellists that that would not protect them from the HIV virus. Dr. Nisbett said persons who are healthy carriers of the HIV virus could look “healthy and very well” until the onset of AIDS: “People can look very well for eight to 10 years even without medication but on the onset of AIDS, the immune system can deteriorate until end of spectrum”. ~~Adz:Left~~
Dr. Nisbett said weight loss and other general symptoms that people look for to identity persons living with HIV were not medically correct. “Only a test can disclose the status,” she said.
Like Nisbett, Liburd is encouraged by the decrease in stigma and discrimination.
“There is great improvement especially due to our location (HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit). We are in the heart of town. People frequent the office because they are getting comfortable with the issue.”
Liburd said various strategies employed by the coordinating HIV/AIDS Unit, such as puppet shows, a Culturama troupe, school outreach and song competitions, would continue to help reduce the stigma.
Nurse Farell said: “Knowing other people’s names cannot protect you.” Asked by a caller how people could protect themselves against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDS), Nurse Farrell said, “They have to use barrier methods.” She said those who have oral sex should also use protective barriers.
“Consistently avoid having sex with a person whose status you do not know,” Farrell said.
