Hundreds turn up for free HIV testing

RWAMAGANA – Hundreds of people, young and old, on Saturday, swamped Muhazi Itorero camp in Rwamagana District, to undergo voluntary HIV/Aids testing. Nehime Uwimana, the Mayor of the district, could hardly contain his excitement and joy over the exercise. He, however, noted that the most unfortunate thing is that most HIV positive individuals were unaware that they live with the virus. “If you think you are perfectly healthy and you do not need to go for HIV testing, let me tell you that you are wrong,” he said. “It is an important gesture, especially from the youth, to test for HIV…it shows they are concerned with their health. Young people are the most vulnerable to HIV.” Jeannette Mukamusire, a nurse working with Rwamagana Health Centre, said that they have registered a big number of youth testing, than anticipated. She noted that many a time, the virus remains dormant in the body for several years, which makes the carrier to feel that he/she is healthy, and unknowingly puts others, especially their sexual partners, at risk. According to the nurse, once you get to know whether you are HIV-negative or HIV-positive, you can act appropriately to prevent transmission. “Thus, it is not possible to prevent the viral transmission, until and unless, you know your HIV-status, and an AIDS test is the only way to find this out. The youth are on the right track,” she said. Valentine Umwali, 26, said that she had decided to test for HIV so as to know her status. “There has been enough campaign for all people to test themselves and know their status. If they find me positive, I will know how to go about it. And if I am negative, I will do all I can to protect myself,” she said. HIV testing and counselling centres are located across the country. Ends