Three Helderberg clinics are among numerous City of Cape Town health facilities to offer assisted HIV self-screening, a service announced to coincide with World Aids Day (Thursday 1 December).
Of the 38 City facilities, Somerset West, Sir Lowry’s Pass and Ikhwezi community day centres are offering the service, which allows individuals to do their own HIV test, either in the presence of, and assisted by a healthcare worker, or not.
According to a media statement issued by the City’s Media Office on Wednesday (30 November) the public health sector has introduced two new measures to encourage HIV testing in the past 12 months.
The first, Index Case Testing (ICT), encourages those with HIV to get all “at-risk” contacts (young children, sexual contacts or injecting drug partners within the past year) tested for HIV.
The second, self-screening, can be done through a finger prick test (Insti) or an oral swab test (Oraquick). Should an individual’s self-test be positive they are recommended to undergo the usual HIV rapid testing by a lay counsellor or nurse at a health-care facility, in accordance with the National HIV Testing Algorithm.
The statement revealed that nearly 15 000 people are already opting for the assisted self-screening.
“Between April and October 2022 13 478 patients have had assisted HIV self-screening at City Health facilities, returning a positivity rate of 2,3%,” it said.
Councillor Patricia van der Ross, City Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, said: “It’s very encouraging to see clients responding to these new options available to them. Knowing your HIV status is empowering, because it allows you to make the right decisions for your health, but also to protect your loved ones.”
Van der Ross further reminded the public that HIV is essentially a treatable chronic disease, but treatment relies on testing.
“We understand that stigma remains a big challenge, which is unfortunate, because if we were more tolerant and accepting, more people would get tested. So, as part of the education and awareness around World Aids Day, I also challenge one and all to check our prejudice, and be part of the solution.”
Other City health facilities offering HIV self-screening include Albow Gardens, Bloekombos, Bluedowns, Crossroads 1, Delft South, Diep River, Dr Ivan Toms, Eastridge, Factreton, Gugulethu, Hout Bay Main Road, Kuyasa, Langa, Luvuyo, Masiphumelele, Matthew Goniwe CDC, Mayenzeke, Mzamomhle, Philippi, Phumlani, Protea Park, Ravensmead, Saxon Sea, Site B Youth Clinic, Site C Youth Clinic, Spencer Road, St Vincent, Tafelsig CDC, Town 2 CDC, Vuyani, Wallacedene, Weltevreden Valley, Westlake, Westridge and Wynberg.
- HIV testing among men increased from 19,5% in July 2020 to 25,2% in October 2022;
- The vast majority of those testing for HIV are aged 15 to 49;
- The percentage of persons testing positive dropped from 13% in 2010, to just under 2% in 2022.
“The statistical trends are encouraging, but there is always room for improvement,” added Councillor Patricia van der Ross. “Recently, with International Men’s Day, we highlighted the need for men to start playing a more proactive role in their health and well-being. We hope to see a far bigger increase in the percentage of men testing to know their HIV status in future. And with the new screening methods at their disposal, this should be entirely doable.”
