HIV Testing isn't that scary
experience after all.... my friend and I made it a fun experience and a memorable one for that matter. we were all joking of all the craziest things we would do if we found ourselves positive like buying a rat rat - a pesticide for killing rat, trying to rob a bank and being shot dead or just walking home to our folks and requesting for our inheritance then spend it on all we have ever wished on then waiting to die - of course we were just kidding! none of us would dare do that.We met in Thika coincidentally, i didn't have plans of visiting VCT but my friend managed to persuade me with a promise that we were to be tested together - as a couple would do.
The whole experience wasn't bad and we even shared with the nurse who was testing us the wiild thoughts we had and she was all laughing..... anyway all went well i was the first one to be tested then my friend. When the results were out the nurse enquired whether we were ready for the results and whether we were comfortable knowing each others status. My friend was OK with that, so i said yes also, after all the worst or the best one would do is change the status.
Otherwise we were showed the results and i have to confess i was for once nervous - !!!!!
We afterwards made some resolution, My friend vowed to be careful and me............................................................... to ABSTAIN! -
Abstinence Pride breaking the shame.
Now calling on all of you to CHANUKA and tu CHUKUA CONTROL get tested and know your HIV Status.
Some few facts you should know about HIV Aids.
• The good news. Infection rate of adults has been reduced from ten percent to seven percent. UNAIDS: November 2005
• Children made orphans in Kenya. As of 2003, 9% of children under 15 had lost their father, 4% had lost their mother, 2% had lost both parents. 11% of children under 15 had lost one or both parents, an increase of 2% from 1998.
• On the positive side. Knowledge of the cause of the HIV virus in Kenya is very high: more than four out of five persons know that the chances of getting the HIV virus can be reduced by limiting sex to one faithful partner.
• On the negative side. 39% of women and 26% of men do not know that the virus cannot be transmitted by mosquito bites. Similarly, 29% of women and 19 % men still hold the erroneous belief that one can be infected by the virus through sharing of utensils with a person who has AIDS. – 75 % of AIDS cases in Kenya are among people in their most economically productive time of life, i.e. in the 20-45 age bracket. – 75 % of the HIV virus transmission are by hetero-sexual contact. – 30-40 % of babies of HIV-positive mothers are born HIV-positive. More than 100,000 children under age 5 are infected.
• A positive attitude towards those who are HIV-positive is strongly related to level of education. • Wealth is positively associated with knowledge of HIV transmission. The poorest are disadvantaged in all aspects of HIV knowledge.
• In Kenya higher educational level does not protects one from HIV infection; HIV has spread through all regions and sectors of society.
