Johannesburg, 1 October 2008—Every South African engaging in sexual practice – even those in “monogamous” relationships – runs at least a 2% risk of contracting HIV.
Healthcare specialists warn that this is a high statistic that should inspire all South Africans, from all walks of life, to immediately commit to an HIV test.
This expert advice was given today by Dr Grietjie Strydom, Head of Private Programmes at Right to Care, a non-profit organisation that supports over 100 clinics in South Africa and funds the care or treatment of over 110 000 HIV-positive individuals.
It was imperative, said Dr Strydom, that corporate South Africa undertakes to offer employees HIV testing and counselling in the workplace, as an urgent priority to save time, money, and lives.
Testing, she pointed out, was quick, pain-free, simple, and strictly confidential. Of the many methods practiced, the one she recommends is the HIV Rapid Test that involves a finger-prick procedure for the detection of antibodies to HIV in the blood.
A survey underway nationally has delivered the shocking finding – reported in the Sunday Times – that the majority of affluent South Africans are refusing to test because they believe they are not affected by the HIV pandemic. The revelation that all South Africans in a sexual relationship run at least a 2% risk should come as a harsh wake-up call to those who believe that HIV is a selective threat.
The third South African National HIV Behaviour and Health 2008 Survey consists of an anonymous health and sexual behaviour questionnaire and a HIV Rapid Test, the results of which are not given to the qualified tester and are kept completely anonymous.
The survey is being conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) using contracted registered nurses to perform the research.
In her capacity at Right to Care, Dr Strydom does not make direct reference to the HSRC survey but confines her message to the importance of every South African submitting to an HIV test.
“Every person must know his or her [HIV] status. That is the bottom line and it is the only way to plan one’s life. Not submitting to a test is like not wanting to look at your bank statement in tough times. In reality, we all know there is simply no point in ignoring it.”
The HSRC’s previous survey, conducted in 2005, revealed that 10% of those who thought they were at low risk of HIV infection were in fact HIV-positive.
Dr Strydom said that, in both time and expense, the HIV Rapid Test was the most effective method of testing and that employer-based testing was highly advantageous. “In-house rapid testing is a 30-minute procedure in the workplace at a set fee compared to the potential of three days that an employee may have to take off from work in order to undertake a test outside, at a resultant higher financial cost, when measuring the absenteeism cost to the employer.”
Furthermore, she added, “It is also difficult for employees without medical aid cover to procure an HIV test, and they are embarrassed at having to ask where to go for a test. At work everybody has a test and there is no stigma attached, because the message delivered at the information session is clear: if you have sex, you need to have an HIV Test.”
An HIV Rapid Test, conducted by qualified, registered nurses in strictest confidentiality, includes five minutes of pre-test counselling, an eight-minute test, and ten minutes’ post-test counselling. The set fee for this procedure is R149 (excl VAT) plus R84 for a blood test to determine a patient’s CD4 count (which tests whether an HIV-positive person needs to start taking antiretroviral medication).