In what is believed to be the first program of its kind in the world, every villager in the tiny, mountainous kingdom of Lesotho will be offered a free HIV test, reports The World Bank press review Tuesday.
Current estimates show 30 percent of adults in the southern African country are infected with HIV but very few know it. Knowledge of HIV status is considered key to preventing the spread of the disease but – as in most countries of the world – until now Lesothos testing facilities have waited for people to come to them.
This program wants to reverse that, taking the tests to the people. One of the most innovative options is door-to-door testing where health workers will visit every house armed with an HIV kit.
Lesothos ministers and public health officials will announce the 12 million US dollar program this week to test the 1,9 million people living in this mountainous enclave within South Africa for HIV.
In a groundbreaking move for African healthcare, King Letsie III of Lesotho is likely to become the first monarch to take the test publicly, at a clinic in the capital, Maseru, on Thursday.
The gesture by the King is seen as critical in reducing the stigma still associated with HIV across much of the continent. The authorities hope that by reducing the stigma those that test positive will be encouraged to seek treatment as well as refraining from unprotected sex.
The testing program, which is being coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Lesothos Health Ministry, is designed to ensure that all members of the population over the age of 12 will know their HIV status by the end of 2007.
Though tests cannot be mandatory under international human rights law, it is hoped that the vast majority of the population will be reached and will give consent.
Speaking shortly before the announcement, timed to coincide with World AIDS Day, Jim Yong Kim, director of the WHOs HIV/AIDS department, said that he hoped it would be a blueprint for other nations crippled by the disease.
He said that the program should be considered for any country with infection rates above 10 percent.
The plan is to train at least 3.700 community health workers to carry out tests, while 3.600 counselors will be recruited locally to offer support and encourage people to find out their HIV status.
The HIV test, which is as straightforward as a high-street pregnancy test, requires a finger-prick of blood that takes 15 minutes to show if the virus is present.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
Læs også telegrammet “Richard Holbrooke: Strategien mod aids er forkert – vi taber stensikkert kampen, hvis vi ikke lægger den om”, dato 30.11.05, under International bistand ude til venstre
