Nothing wrong with mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 08:33:34 +0000

Dear Editor,

Cabinet recently resolved that testing for HIV and AIDS is now mandatory unlike before when it used to be voluntary. Mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS means that the person who goes to the health institution to access medical services for whatever health problem can be tested for the virus that causes the AIDS pandemic.

 The mandatory test can be done both at the public and private health institution.

In an event of the person being diagnosed to be HIV positive, she or he can be recommended for treatment so that the life of that person can be saved. The issue of mandatory testing has been received with mixed feelings.  On one hand, some people are of the view that the mandatory testing is a violation of human right. On the other hand, some people assert that there is nothing wrong with Government decision on mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya recently disclosed that most deaths recorded in Zambia are related to the AIDS pandemic and there is no need for people to fear going for mandatory HIV/AIDS testing. Whether someone goes for HIV test or not, the status of someone cannot change. Dr. Chilufya further disclosed that there are many people who live without knowing their HIV status, hence the need to be tested.

The main benefit of someone knowing his or her HIV status is that the person can be assisted by being put on the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). This measure will ultimately prolong the life of the person living with the AIDS virus. What is certain is that the results of the person who has undergone HIV test can only be known by the medical practitioner carrying out the test and the person being tested.

It is an undeniable fact that Zambia is one of the countries in the world with high prevalence rate of HIV infection. People aged between 15 and 35 years are the worst hit. To bring down the infection rate, the Government has come up with a deliberate policy of mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS.

The assertion that many people will be fearing to go to the health institutions to seek medical service does not suffice. People will still go to the clinics and hospitals to access medical services even in the advent of the mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS. What is needed is sensitization about the importance of the mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS. Some people are sceptical about the mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS because they don’t fully understand the need for the new policy regarding mandatory testing.

Over and above, there is nothing wrong with mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS in health institutions. This is because the move will benefit people in more ways than one. So, if a person goes to the clinic or hospital for any health problem, she or he must be ready to be tested for HIV and AIDS in line with the mandatory testing for the AIDS pandemic. Kudos to the Government for the mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS. I am in full support of the policy.

Elemiya Phiri, Lusaka.