HIV testing targets exceeded

By Tina George
29 November 2007

The City of Cape Town has been running a get tested campaign to get people to know their HIV status. Their annual target for HIV testing of adults older than 15 years of age has gone beyond their average number.

A total of 223 089 residents have been tested across the Cape Metropole.

Last year, the city succeeded in testing nearly 2000 residents at eight shopping malls on World Aids Day.

“We are doing similar outreaches this World Aids Day, we reach out to people who don’t come to the clinics and offer them an opportunity to test themselves to get to know their status,” says Executive Director for City Health, Dr Ivan Toms.

Toms added that the reason for encouraging people to get tested is that if more people know their status they are most likely to change their behaviour.

“If they’re HIV positive we would then direct them to either a support programme, if their cd4 count is low we’ll refer them onto an anti retro viral site for treatment,” says Toms.

The municipality offers free testing throughout the year at all 86 clinics in the city.