Snapshots: Self testing in Zimbabwe

Tadiwa Murahwa, a 22 year old college student is receiving HIV counselling from Faith Zikhali, a nurse counsellor at the New Start Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe. Tadiwa found out about HIV self-testing after looking for information on the internet.

Tadiwa says: “I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend and soon after developed a yeast infection and thought it was HIV, so I went on the internet to find out how I could test discreetly and that’s when I found out about self-testing.

Nurse Faith Zikhali tells Tadiwa about the services offered and confirms that Tadiwa wants an HIV self-test.

After speaking with the nurse Tadiwa watches a 4 minute video on self-testing. The video is available in Shona, Ndebele and English – the languages of Zimbabwe- and people can choose which language they prefer.

After seeing the video, people return to the counsellor and after further discussion, receive the self-testing kits and go into private cubicles to perform the test.

After, performing the self test Tadiwa says: “The test is very easy to use and the video explained everything clearly. I am going to encourage my boyfriend and colleagues to come and do the self-test.”

Zimbabwe, with the support of UNITAID and Population Services International, has distributed more than 645,000 kits to date in the country. Zimbabwe has seen large increases in the number of people who get HIV tests. Dr TsiTsi Apollo, Deputy Director HIV Program, Ministry of Health Zimbabwe, ““Self-testing has shown good success, particularly in reaching men, who often do not come to health facilities for testing.”

30 November 2018 7 photos HIV/AIDS

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