Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will be providing free HIV testing and counselling services as well as conducting CD4 screening at this year’s Harare Agricultural Show as part of efforts to encourage more people to know their HIV status and seek treatment early.
By Phyllis Mbanje
Medical experts say seeking treatment early is a key condition to be able to live a long and healthy life with HIV and MSF will be using its mobile van for the testing services.
Those who test positive will have an opportunity to know their CD4 count, which will determine if they qualify to start treatment. A CD4 count is an important indicator of how well one’s immune system is working.
Counsellors will also be on stand-by to provide services before, during and after an HIV test and CD4 screening.
“We are encouraging people to get tested for HIV so that they know their status. If they are positive we will recommend that they seek treatment early,” said Fasil Tezera, the MSF Belgium Head of Mission in Zimbabwe. “HIV testing and knowledge of one’s HIV status is the first step towards ending HIV.”
Providing HIV testing and counselling services is also in line with the “90-90-90 target by 2020” set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids). The 90-90-90 targets aim to ensure that 90% of all people living with HIV will know their status; 90% of those who need it, will be on treatment and 90% of these will have undetectable viral loads.
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Although Zimbabwe’s HIV programme is a success, to accelerate the gains there is need for more people to be reached and tested.
“If stakeholders, including MSF, do not reach out to people to provide HIV testing and counselling services, Zimbabwe will not be able to meet the set targets,” said Abi Kebra Belaye, the MSF OCA Head of Mission.
“As MSF we are saying, get tested today, know your HIV status and seek treatment as soon as possible. This is the only way one can contribute to reduced HIV transmission.”
