HIV self-testing kit launched

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has launched the Community CheckNow HIV-self-testing kit. The kits are meant to help communities know their HIV status in real-time.

The kits were launched on Thursday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. In a speech delivered for him by Vice President Jessica Alupo, President Museveni emphasized the need for sensitization of the population to raise AIDS awareness with particular emphasis on behavior change.

Museveni added that the messages should come out clearly expressing the danger caused by HIV/AIDS to individuals, and families.

Museveni is also concerned by the high numbers of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in the country. He said that there are still under-utilized opportunities to bring the numbers down and faster to ensure the country is on track to attaining its commitment to ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health said that the Ministry is working with partners to offer comprehensive HIV prevention care and treatment which has resulted in the reduction of new infections.

The minister commended the partnership between the government and Abbott the makers of the kit that has resulted in diagnostic support in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and hepatitis. She said that it has enabled the Ministry to strengthen the response to the disease burdens.

Aceng also revealed that the trials of the self-testing kits were conducted last year among young people in Universities with good results in acceptability, response, use, and results. She added that the kit showed high-quality results when it was evaluated at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

According to Aceng, the enhanced capacity for testing will boost the programming and help the country achieve the 95,95,95 goals of the UNAIDS.

Aceng also showed concern about the occurrences of new infections among some populations such as adolescent girls and young women, the youth, Men, and key populations such as sex workers and fishermen.

Dr. Henry Mwebesa the Director of General Health Services said that the Ministry has developed guidelines to help streamline self-testing within the communities. He added that there is also a mechanism for capturing data for all those who have self-tested.

James Koda from Abbot said that the HIV self-testing kit is to solve the problem of the people in rural areas who cannot easily access testing services.

The Check Now HIV Self-Test is a swift, on-the-spot examination designed to identify antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in a small blood sample obtained from a finger prick. This innovative method empowers individuals to ascertain their HIV status discreetly in the comfort of their own homes, alleviating concerns about potential prejudice or bias that might have previously deterred them from accessing healthcare services.

A standout feature of the Check Now kit is its rapid testing capability. Within a mere 15-20 minutes, individuals can receive their results, marking a substantial enhancement over the prolonged waiting periods associated with traditional testing techniques.

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