Sunday is World Aids Day, and all around the country, the Ministry of Health is organizing free HIV testing for the public. It's part of an awareness campaign by the Ministry to allow an opportunity to find persons to find out their HIV status.
Today, the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Center, which is a part of the Cleopatra White Health Center Set up shop on North Front Street, and 7News stopped by. We spoke to the coordinator about the importance of the effort:
Bernadine Grinage, Acting Coordinator - Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center
"World AIDS Day is celebrated globally on the 1st of December. We choose today to do HIV testing for the public. It's a screening test and its free, it's accurate and you have professional service being offered."
"As the slogan go, we want to get to zero infection, so a screening test for HIV to know you HIV status. It is helpful because if you are
HIV non-reaction, meaning you don't have the HIV virus, then you can identify risks factors if you have any that you can put a plan in place that you can prevent getting HIV and if you do have HIV then we can show you and assure of confidential, professional medical services that you can get throughout the country of Belize. This test is happening throughout the country expect areas like San Pedro is having their testing on Sunday."
The Global Theme for World AIDS Day is "Getting to Zero."
