All Brits To Be Screened For HIV
November 15, 2009 2 Comments
The government is planning to screen the entire population for HIV and AIDS, amid concerns that one quarter of the people infected by the virus are unaware they have it.
Gay men and black Africans, who are reportedly* more likely to carry the virus, will be targeted in the pilot scheme. Brighton and Lewisham will be the first to see the changes with their GPs.
The concern is that people infected with HIV, who don’t know they have the virus, continue to infect new partners.
Presently patients ask for the tests, but the new guidelines would make giving the tests routine. Patients would have to opt out of them.
This is great. There is so much stigma around the disease that people don’t even want to test for it.
And I understand why. A friend of mine was at the doctor and mentioned that her boyfriend lived in another city. Sensibly, but insensitively, the GP suggested that she do a round of STI tests, just as a precautionary measure. In a huff she refused the tests and railed for weeks against the well-meaning woman in the white coat.
To her, doing the tests would mean that she thought her boyfriend was cheating.
No one thinks their partner is playing away, putting out of their mind the fact that the cuckold is always the last to know. This would be fine if it was only their own health at risk, but it is not.
My friend went on to have another long term relationship in which she had unprotected sex (as you do). By not having the tests, she put her present partner in the position where he had to trust the faithfulness of an ex boyfriend he never met. Ludicrous!
All of this is a rambly way to say that the tests are a very good idea.
And to the critics who are crying Fascism — all you have to do is say no.
* It makes me uncomfortable to paint groups of people with such a tarred brush. If you think the Ministry of Health is adding to the bias associated with these men and women please feel free to comment. I don’t know enough about where they got the stats to rant effectively.
I think this is great news, but there will be some kinks that need to be worked out first.
For example, currently the HIV test, whether a positive or negative result, goes on the patient’s permanent record only if done at their GPs. The GP then is required to report this any time the apply for life insurance and other such things. This reporting will need to be changed and the life insurance industry should start offering it to HIV+ people (only 2 companies do now).
But testing at GUM clinics is anonymous so maybe that’s where people will end up going.
Also, I agree that it isn’t good to target certain groups if for negative purposes. However, in this case targeting gay men and African immigrants is a great idea. Of course they are not the only people with HIV, but there is a massive difference in rates of HIV between them and the rest of the population and in terms of health promotion it is best to target those most likely to have the virus first to reduce the rates in the overall population faster. For example, in London 1 in 11 gay men has HIV.
Finally, a pet peeve of mine is when people confuse HIV and AIDS. There is no such thing as an AIDS test. AIDS is a group of illnesses that a person with HIV can get, but not a virus itself. Only HIV has a test.
Good on the NHS for trying to do this, I hope it’s successful.
(Mack)
As it is possible to have AIDS and not know it, then the tests will screen for HIV and AIDS.
People will learn that they have the virus, doctors will determine whether they have AIDS and can begin treatment if they have the syndrome in addition to the virus.
(Mick)