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Confidential HIV testing centres may be a reality

DUBAI — The World Health Organisation on Monday called upon the region’s countries, including the UAE, to increase the uptake of voluntary testing for HIV to improve response to the disease.

The world health body has asked the nations to fulfill their commitment made in the Dubai Consensus Statement on AIDS in June 2010 on the universal access to treatment and expansion of voluntary counselling and HIV testing. It also said that most countries are still falling short of the goal of universal access to treatment despite having established HIV treatment and care services and provided antiretroviral medicines.

The UAE says a draft bylaw, pending cabinet approval, legalises voluntary testing clinics (VCTs) and protects and guarantees the civil and human rights of people living with AIDS including the right for employment, education, care and support.

Dr Nada Al Marzouqi, head of the National AIDs Committee while responding to WHO’s call said that the testing clinics that maintain confidentiality of the patients were under study. “Such clinics have already been set up in Saudi Arabia and Jordan and we will set them up here, as well,” she said without stating a timeline for implementation.

However, getting an HIV test is not yet a viable option for most people at risk in the region, according to WHO. This is due to lack of risk awareness (or perceived susceptibility); limited access to confidential HIV testing services; and fear of stigmatisation and discrimination in families and communities, at schools and in workplaces.

In many countries, large numbers of migrant workers undergo mandatory HIV tests and the consequence of HIV-positive test results can be deportation or denial of visa. Counselling and referral to HIV care and treatment services is often not provided. This is a lost opportunity for prevention, treatment and care and fuels stigma and discrimination, according to the health body.

In the first progress report on the disease presented at UN General Assembly in New York last year, the UAE said it spent $17.6 million in public funding on the disease of which 82 per cent is dedicated to compulsory testing. “Knowing the HIV status is a prerequisite for access to HIV care and treatment and for prevention of onwards transmission of HIV. We need to focus our efforts to help people to know their HIV status through voluntary and confidential testing” said Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The call was also based on the results announced last week by the US National Institutes of Health showing that if an HIV-positive person adheres to an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen, the risk of transmitting the virus to an uninfected sexual partner can be reduced by 96 per cent. The trial, conducted by the HIV Prevention Trials Network, enrolled more than 1,700 sero-discordant couples (one partner who is HIV-positive and one who is HIV-negative) from Africa, Asia, the US and Latin America.

The availability of treatment for prevention will empower people not only to get tested for HIV, but also to disclose their HIV status, discuss HIV prevention options with their partners and access essential HIV services. It will also significantly contribute to reducing the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV. “This breakthrough helps us to fulfil the commitments made in Dubai Consensus Statement on AIDS in June 2010. The policy-makers from the region can re-commit themselves during the upcoming High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York to an enabling environment which results in universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care,” said Hind Khatib, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team in Cairo.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com