I have listened to people who are hesitant to get an HIV test, the moment they reach the health facility, they back off, for fear of the unknown. They have consoled themselves that, “It is better not to know, what you don’t know does not kill you.”
Catherine Murombedzi
How wrong it is, in health issues, what you don’t know has the potential to kill you. With many HIV infected
males reporting at health facilities late, what they don’t know can be fatal.
Thanks to HIV self-testing kits. For those who prefer privacy, the tool is here, revolutionizing HIV testing.
Dr Abel Mapfumo, the medical officer at Glen View Poly Clinic, supported by AHF, said HIV self-testing is proving popular and the numbers of tested clients keeps growing.
With counselling services available, many people have used the Self testing booth at Glen View Poly Clinic.
We have an option, either one is tested by a health worker, or, one gets the kit to self-test in the booth in private. One is counselled prior to the test and is again offered the counselling service after self-testing,” said Dr Abel Mapfumo.
“Rarely do we have one walking away after self-testing without seeking further help, however, a few do slip away. Usually, the person will report back one day,” said Dr Mapfumo.
Dr Mapfumo said the centre further tests using the rapid antigen test which uses the finger prick to draw blood used in testing.
The HIV self-testing uses the oral method. Dr Mapfumo said this on Friday while addressing print, broadcast, online and freelance journalists on a tour facilitated by the National Aids Council in Harare.
The tour saw journalists visiting three sites, all supported by AHF, namely Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Centre of Excellence, Sally Mugabe Hospital Centre of Excellence and Glen View Poly Cinic in Harare.
The environment from point of care, counselling, testing, treatment, care ad support offered comprehensive state-of-the-art health care conducive to help with recovery.
Glen View Poly Clinic, being in a high density suburb offers health service to a population of 146 916, A total of 5 404 are on ART.
Dr Mapfumo emphasized the need to give suitable service, gone are the days of a one size fits all model.
“We offer differentiated service delivery, (DSD) which is a client-centred approach that simplifies and adapts HIV services across the cascade to reflect the preferences, expectations and needs of our ART clients,” said Dr Mapfumo.
He added that there were models suitable for a family, with the other for a community.
“If a family has more than one member living with HIV, there is no need for all of them to visit the clinic for a refill if they are stable. We encourage families with more than one person living with HIV to form a family ART Refill group, (FARG). It saves time on the facility and the family too,” he said.
The family can be mirrored in the community too.
“We encourage Community ART Refill Group’s too, (CARGS) Not only do clients save time, they meet and offer each other psycho-social support and share ideas. A stable client is offered a minimum of three months supply and mostly, we dispense 6 months refills, depending with our inventory stocks ,” said Dr Mapfumo.
The clinic has a key population, (KP) friendly service covering all their health needs.
“We have a KP friendly clinic, where sex workers and the LGBTIQ community access health services for free. We have chaperones who help identify others for sexual reproductive health rights, (SRHR) Pre exposure prophylaxis, (PrEP), Post exposure prophylaxis, (PEP) prevention kits like condoms and lubricants,” said Dr Mapfumo.
With some clients failing to visit the clinic for various reasons, the clinic goes to the community.
“We have a mobile clinic, once every week, we bring service to the community’s door for convenience,” he added. With KPs 10 times at risk of HIV infection than their counterparts, DSD model mitigates the response and reduces the chances of defaulting.
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