New centre opens for HIV testing, counselling
In 2002, four hundred and thirty-one people living in Belize tested positive for HIV, but authorities suspect there could be thousands more, totally unaware of their status. To encourage Belizeans to get tested, this morning the Ministry of Health officially opened the first voluntary counselling and testing centre located on the Cleopatra White compound on Princess Margaret Drive. The centre will offer services like pre-test and post-test counselling, emotional support for those who test positive and anti retroviral treatment to those who meet the medical requirements. According to Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Paul Edwards, the centre should help change society’s attitude towards the deadly disease.
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist, Min. of Health
“Before when we used to tell people go out and get your testing done, the first question was: what do you have to offer? There are now anti-retrovirals available to improve your quality and quantity of life. Therefore, you as an individual and we as a country, will have to, will be forced to decrease that stigma and that discrimination that is attached. It is through us becoming aware of HIV/AIDS, knowing the prevention and transmission, that we will take individual personal responsibility to decrease that possibility of acquiring that virus. Having those anti-retrovirals available then, I as an individual who knows my status, will then have to make a critical decision: will I stay at home, will I deprive myself of anti-retrovirals, or will I come forward irrespective of what others think and will I obtain the benefits of increased quality and quantity of life that anti-retrovirals can provide to me.”
Janelle Chanona
“If a person gets scared enough to come in and say I need to find out my HIV status, they get a negative result, is it really a wake up call as far as a change in behavioural pattern or these people are just, oh you see, a lot of hype about nothing, I’m fine so I can do what I’ve been doing?”
Rodel Beltran Perera, Member, National AIDS Commission
“Exactly, I’m glad you brought that up. My concern about all reaction to a negative is that is this centre does provide the education component that does need to follow an HIV negative test…That they do have another chance at life, but it is important to show them the skill to remain HIV negative. And that comes with a lot of education and very one on one education, because it does involve how we are able to take the message to them that they do need to change their behaviour. And that needs to be very sincere.”
The centre will be open to the public within the next two weeks, following an intensive training course for counsellors.
