Calling all men to test for HIV

The Anova Health Institute recently launched an initiative called Score4Life, which encourages men in and around Roodepoort to know their HIV status.

The campaign offers free, safe and confidential HIV testing in a semi-permanent pop-up facility in Van Wyk Street, Roodepoort and is funded by the United States President’s Emergency fund for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Knowing his HIV status empowers a man to make the right choices and prolong his life, yet 60 per cent of South African men don’t know their status. This puts men at risk of serious illness and untimely death, both of which are entirely preventable with the right treatment and interventions.

But it doesn’t stop at knowing your status. Anova Health Institute is willing to provide an ongoing dialogue whether you test positive or negative.

“Our Score4Life initiative gives men a chance to establish their status in a safe and confidential environment. Testing is, however, just the first step in the HIV prevention and treatment process. In order to keep the channels of communication open and to provide linkages to localised services and care, participants will be issued with airtime in order to give them the means to access these services, regardless of their status,” said Dr Diana Mokoena of Anova.

In order to be tested you need:

– To be a man of at least 21 years old

– Have a cellphone with an active number

– Provide valid proof of identity (in the form of a birth certificate, ID, driver’s licence or passport from any country)

Where to go and when:

Testing will take place in Office 26 on the 2nd floor of Merlin House at 51 Van Wyk Street, Roodepoort (opposite Shoprite). The facility will be open seven days a week from Friday 15 July to Sunday 16 October. Operating times are as follows:

– Monday to Friday: 7am – 6pm

– Saturday: 9am – 5pm

– Sunday: 10am – 4pm

The testing and counselling is done in private and should take approximately 20 minutes.

“Knowledge is power,” said Dr Mokoena. “When you know your status, you Score4Life,” she concluded.

For more information on Score4Life you can contact Carlin at carlin@dotgood.co.za or call 011 447 0427.

For more information on the Anova Health Institute, contact Tanja at bencun@anovahealth.co.za, call 011 581 5070 or visit www.anovahealth.co.za.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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