Annual regional testing initiative on HIV/AIDS

Thursday, July 02, 2015. BMG:Do you know your status? That is, are you positive or negative for HIV, the virus which causes AIDS? About 1% of Belizeans – 4,000 – are confirmed to have the virus but the number may be higher because many do not, in fact, know their status.

On Wednesday in Belize City the National AIDS Commission hosted Belize’s leg of the regional testing initiative, an annual event designed to get more people tested for the virus.

Prevalence rates for HIV, according to NAC communication and program officer Arthur Usher have fallen from 1.4% to 1.2% though Belize is still in the top five countries regionally – an unenviable position. However, the efforts to get more men tested are not following through because of the local attitude toward general sexual health which they do not consider important.

However, the Commission and its partners have been targeting men for testing with some success. A few men who attended the event stated that because they believe strongly in being faithful to their partners and ensures that they are in control of their lives, they get tested regularly – and are fortunately negative.

As one man put it, the test is short, but the result, if positive, lasts forever and results in death, though prolonged due to modern technology.

“Are You Positive? You Are Negative? Know Your Status.” Get tested today!

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