All You Need To Know About HIV Testing
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Many Nigerians are HIV Positive [carrying the virus that causes AIDS]
without knowing it.
Every sexually active Nigeria should go for voluntary HIV
counselling and testing [vct].
without knowing it.
Every sexually active Nigeria should go for voluntary HIV
counselling and testing [vct].
WHY SHOULD I GO FOR COUNSELLING AND TESTING
If you have ever had sex with someone whose HIV status
[whether they are carrying the virus or not] was not known from a blood
test you migth have contracted HIV without realising it.
Healthy looking people can carry HIV without knowing it.
If you are thinking of getting married and having children, it is also good
for you and your partner to go for counselling and get tested because HIV
can be passed from a mother to an unborn baby.
[whether they are carrying the virus or not] was not known from a blood
test you migth have contracted HIV without realising it.
Healthy looking people can carry HIV without knowing it.
If you are thinking of getting married and having children, it is also good
for you and your partner to go for counselling and get tested because HIV
can be passed from a mother to an unborn baby.
GETTING STARTED
Make up your mind to get tested. Find out the nearest hospital, clinic or centre
where you can go for confidencial counselling and testing.
Make sure that you talk to a trained counsellor before the test is carried out.
The counsellor will prepare your mind on what to expect.
A small amount of your blood will be taken to carry out the test.
remember the test is absolutely confidencial.
only you and the counsellor will know the result.
where you can go for confidencial counselling and testing.
Make sure that you talk to a trained counsellor before the test is carried out.
The counsellor will prepare your mind on what to expect.
A small amount of your blood will be taken to carry out the test.
remember the test is absolutely confidencial.
only you and the counsellor will know the result.
YOUR TEST RESULT
once your test result is out, the counsellor will discuss the
meaning of your result with you
If you are HIV negative, it means either:
Right now you are not infected with HIV
OR
You may be infected but it is still too early to detect the virus. it can take up to
3-6 months to test positive after being infected with HIV.
This is called the ''window period''. Though you are likely not to be affected you will
have to repeat the test in 3 months to be absolutely sure.
Since you are not infected now, you will have to make up your mind to carry
out any of these three activities to maintain your HIV negative status:
Abstain from sex if you are single.
Be faithful to only your married partner[s] whose HIV status has been
proved by a blood test too.
Use a condom always and correctly whenever you want to have sex.
IF YOUR TEST RESULT IS POSITIVE
This means that you are infected with HIV.
The virus attacks your body immune [defence] system making it possible
for you to catch a lot of different sickness.
Knowing that you are HIV positive early is very good. This means that you
can take care of your body and support your body defence system to fight
other sickness.
Being HIV positive is not the end of the world. You can still have a good
life ahead of you. All you have to do is to make up your mind to live
positively with the virus.
once your test result is out, the counsellor will discuss the
meaning of your result with you
If you are HIV negative, it means either:
Right now you are not infected with HIV
OR
You may be infected but it is still too early to detect the virus. it can take up to
3-6 months to test positive after being infected with HIV.
This is called the ''window period''. Though you are likely not to be affected you will
have to repeat the test in 3 months to be absolutely sure.
Since you are not infected now, you will have to make up your mind to carry
out any of these three activities to maintain your HIV negative status:
Abstain from sex if you are single.
Be faithful to only your married partner[s] whose HIV status has been
proved by a blood test too.
Use a condom always and correctly whenever you want to have sex.
IF YOUR TEST RESULT IS POSITIVE
This means that you are infected with HIV.
The virus attacks your body immune [defence] system making it possible
for you to catch a lot of different sickness.
Knowing that you are HIV positive early is very good. This means that you
can take care of your body and support your body defence system to fight
other sickness.
Being HIV positive is not the end of the world. You can still have a good
life ahead of you. All you have to do is to make up your mind to live
positively with the virus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR POSITIVE LIVING
When you firs find out that you are HIV positive, you may find the news hard to deal with.
You might feel depressed, angry or in despair. But you can continue to live relatively
normally. Take time to assess your situation as calmly as you can.
Talk to someone you trust. It may make you feel less isolated. Talk to your counselor about
people who you might be able to talk to, like a friend, your spouse or partner, a family
member or a support group.
Practice what it feels like to tell someone that you are HIV positive with your counselor.
You might feel depressed, angry or in despair. But you can continue to live relatively
normally. Take time to assess your situation as calmly as you can.
Talk to someone you trust. It may make you feel less isolated. Talk to your counselor about
people who you might be able to talk to, like a friend, your spouse or partner, a family
member or a support group.
Practice what it feels like to tell someone that you are HIV positive with your counselor.
JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP
A support group is an association of people already living with the virus. They are there to help
and encourage each other. They fight for the rights of people living with the virus. They also know
where to get drugs to help people living with the virus to keep them healthy.
In Nigeria, the coordinating body for people living with HIV is NEPWHAN
CSO HOUSE,
4, JABA CLOSE,
OFF ARTHUR UNAGBE STREET,
OPPOSITE FCDA MINISTRY'S GATE,
AREA 11, GARKI, ABUJA.
Tel:[09]-3145505-7, 08033061278
e-mail: nepwhan@nepwhan.com or
patmatem@nepwhan.com
and encourage each other. They fight for the rights of people living with the virus. They also know
where to get drugs to help people living with the virus to keep them healthy.
In Nigeria, the coordinating body for people living with HIV is NEPWHAN
CSO HOUSE,
4, JABA CLOSE,
OFF ARTHUR UNAGBE STREET,
OPPOSITE FCDA MINISTRY'S GATE,
AREA 11, GARKI, ABUJA.
Tel:[09]-3145505-7, 08033061278
e-mail: nepwhan@nepwhan.com or
patmatem@nepwhan.com
If you get in touch with them, they will be able to link you to a support group
nearest to you.
nearest to you.
