MORE than 14 million people worldwide could be living with HIV and don’t know it. This is according to research conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). With 1 December globally recognised as World Aids Day, WHO said nearly half of all people with HIV are unaware of their status.
Many of these are people at higher risk of HIV infection who often find it difficult to access existing testing services.
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, said millions of people with HIV are still missing out on life-saving treatment, which can also prevent HIV transmission to others.
“HIV self-testing should open the door for many more people to know their HIV status and find out how to get treatment and access prevention services,”she said.
HIV self-testing means people can use oral fluid or blood- finger-pricks to discover their status. Results are ready within 20 minutes or less. Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics.
Reports suggest that locally, South Africans have made major advancements in how HIV-positive people manage their diagnoses. As soon as they are made aware of their status, they start receiving treatment.
Between 2005 and 2015 the proportion of people with HIV learning of their status increased from 12 per cent to 60 per cent globally.
