Early Testing Saves Lives

Hello Everyone! I am sure you have noticed the countdown timer, right at the top of this site. This countdown timer, is counting down to the 1st December 2009. So, what’s happening on the 1st December? It is a day when we have the World AIDS Day.

When was the last time you have a check, to see if you have been infected? If you reply by saying that you have not had any sexual intercourse, then my next question will be, have you ever been hospitalised or donated blood? Infected blood transferred via needle is the other cause of HIV infection. Getting tested, is regardlessly, a safer way to indicate your sero-status. Sero-status refers to the presence or absence of specific substances in the blood stream.

How do you go about going for a HIV test? You can do so at hospitals & clinics all over Singapore, or you can choose seven clinics in Singapore anonymously. When you go for anonymous tests, you will only be given a number for your turn and no other identifications will be requested. In the event, that you are tested positive, you will be counselled and informed of the choices available to you, but again, no identifications will be demanded from you.

Here’s a short video, taken from one of the anonymous clinics, showing you, what happens when you go for an anonymous test.

As you can see, it looked simple and really it is simple. I have been through this several times, with a space of 6 months in-between. In up-coming post regarding this, I will explore more on the psyche of going through the motions, the basics of HIV prevention and several other topics.

As it is, I am agonising the title that I have chosen for this topic, because getting infected, is NOT the end of your life. I am very sorry for any of those feelings I have hurt with this title. I will change it, if someone can suggest a better title for me.