Jenaya Rockman
8 November 2008
column
Arusha — Some youth were scared, some said they felt pressure, but all of them knew that it is better to know their status than to not know. Last week 216 students from Lemara and Elerai Secondary Schools were tested for HIV.
Testers from Tumaini VCT-Njiro visited the two schools and tested those who were ready. Before testing, the schools were visited by an Arusha area woman who provides a visible example of living a healthy happy life despite being infected with HIV. She encourages students and teachers to know their status by saying "If you are negative you can live in such as way to remain negative, and if you are positive you can take care of yourself to live as long as possible." At the schools, the problem was not convincing the students to test; it was having enough time to test all who were willing! The testers understand the importance of testing youth so are willing to return to test those who were not able to be tested on the first visit. However, one problem the testers continually face is finding funds for transport to visit more schools.
Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) can empower young people to protect themselves and others. However, very few youth have ever been tested for HIV. Each year, 60% of new infections occur in this group, but only 11% of 15-24 year olds have ever been tested for HIV. Clearly there is a need for increased testing for young people. Many do not obtain testing services because they may not know where to go, may not have time, services may be too far away, or they may be afraid of what people will think of them if they are seen going into a testing center. Bringing testing to schools solves many of these problems. Young people can access testing right in their schools as part of the normal school day and the stigma that may be attached to testing is removed because everyone is doing it! Hopefully, establishing a habit of being tested when students are young will carry on throughout their lives.
Some students had been tested before, but they have been educated in the importance of being tested multiple times to ensure their results are negative. After someone is infected with HIV, there exists a window period in which they may test negative even though they may, in fact, be positive. This happens because tests for HIV detect antibodies produced in response to the presence of the virus. These antibodies may not reach detectable levels until three to six months after infection. So for someone to ensure they are negative, they need to be tested after three months and then again after six months. However, it is also important that during this time they do not engage in any activities (such as unprotected sex) that could infect them.
The good news for youth in Tanzania is that as of the end of 2007, youth over the age of 16 no longer need their parent's permission to test. If a youth is under 16 and wants to test, they decide with the tester whether they will be able to handle the results. Testing centers in Arusha include Tumaini VCT-Njiro, Angaza, Marie Stopes, UMATI. So even though June 27 is the National Day of Testing, don't wait until then; get tested today!
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