Free HIV testing will be available throughout Cayman next week.
The Health Services Authority, the Cayman AIDS Foundation and the Red Cross have organised HIV Testing Week, which will run from 27 June to 1 July.
Minister of Health Mark Scotland is calling on residents to “take the test, know their status, and take control.”
“Even after 30 years of education and prevention efforts, HIV continues to be a critical issue throughout the world; one of which we are not exempt,” Mr. Scotland said.
The first case of HIV was reported in Cayman 26 years ago. Since then, 98 people have contracted the virus, and 35 have died. According to Cayman’s Public Health Department, 53 people are living with AIDS or HIV in the Cayman Islands. Ten others have left Cayman, temporarily or permanently.
Mr. Scotland said some people with HIV were not even aware they had the disease, “but those individuals who do know are living longer, better quality lives due to the treatments they receive”.
“Knowing your status means taking control and being responsible for your own health,” he added.
HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator at the Health Services Authority Pauline Ffrench emphasised the importance of minimising risk and stopping the spread of HIV.
“In principle, everyone who is old enough for sexual activity is at risk for becoming infected with HIV. The best way to reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV is to avoid risk taking behaviours that give the virus a chance to spread from someone else to you. The main behaviour change should be to prevent all unsafe sexual practices and engage in faithful relationships,” she said.
The groups are aiming to support and encourage people to voluntarily seek HIV testing and counselling.
Cayman’s efforts to offer free testing and to help stop the spread of AIDS/HIV is part of worldwide campaigns. The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS and the Caribbean Broadcasting Media Partnership are also promoting regional HIV Testing Day on 27 June, while the National Association of people with AIDS will be commemorating National HIV Testing Day in the United States.
Free HIV testing will be available from 9am to 2pm at all district health centres on Grand Cayman, at the George Town General Practice Clinic, Public Health Clinic, Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac. Testing at the Little Cayman Clinic will be by appointment.
The testing procedure involves a blood test. No appointment is necessary at the larger clinics and the waiting time for testing is usually no more than 10 minutes.
The results will be available in three working days and will be given to the patient only, who must return to the clinic where the test was taken to get the results. This is to protect the confidentiality of the individual and to offer counselling.
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