HIV: Seek And Treat
November 11, 2011 No Comments
All sexually active adults will now be offered an HIV test during all primary care visits in Vancouver and Prince George.
The provincial government-funded initiative includes a huge marketing campaign to alert people to the risks of infection and availability of testing.
The scheme’s efforts to diagnose 3,500 more people over four years at a cost of $48 million may reach its goal, but it is likely to miss some groups. Though the aim of the initiative is to encourage testing for a more diverse demographic, it excludes two vulnerable groups: young people and those who don’t access primary healthcare.
The high price tag is justified by the lower cost of HIV testing done alongside routine blood tests. The basic aim of the project is sensible. The marketing scheme will alert more people to the possibility of being HIV positive and the availability of testing, and will help to destigmatize getting tested.
Offering an HIV test during routine healthcare visits may irritate a few people, but that is a small price to pay for the amount of lives early detection could save.
Contact the author here: miriam@morningquickie.com
