Hiv self testing

1. Launch of self Testing Report
Eunice Sinyemu
11th
June 2015

2. HIV self testing: Perspective from NZP+
• NZP+ supports HIV self-testing as a
complimentary strategy to increase HIV
testing as well as people’s knowledge of HIV
status
• However, NZP+ strongly feels that before
HIVST can be scaled up, it is important to
consider the complexity around self-testing

3. As NZP+, we believe that…..
Because HIVST involves testing in private
• Has the potential to improve testing amongst
those with undiagnosed HIV
• To be used to reach out to hard to reach
• Increase the frequency of testing amongst
people at higher risk
• Encourage mutual testing among partners

4. • It will reduce some of the barriers associated
with HIV testing
• Many people will have access to testing
including hard to reach populations
• It will contribute to the achievement of
universal access to HIV treatment and care
• Contribute to the achievement of 90-90-90
targets

5. However
For HIVST to be truly effective, it will need to
meet some of the criteria
• Voluntary
• Test kits should have enough information
• Support mechanisms must be in place for
those in rural areas
• GBV issues needs to be considered
• Distribution of testing kits needs to be
considered

6. In addition,
• Individuals must be fully supported to
understand the benefits as well as
what a negative result means
what a positive result means
• There must be a clear pathway to enable
those who test positive to link in to care
• Different contexts in which self-testing will be
used must be assessed e.g gender power
imbalances, multiple partners

7. Therefore..
Communities such NZP+ and its consitituency
will play a key role in
• Generating demands for testing
• Advocating for availability of and access to
treatment
• Supporting individuals who test positive to be
remain engaged in care
• Documenting the impact, success, challenges

8. • Without meaningful community engagement,
self-test can probably do more harm than
good
• From NZP+’s perspective it is important that
linkage to care receives appropriate policy and
attention

9. Recommendations
Because HIVST puts sole responsibility on an
individual to seek confirmatory HIV test:
• CBOs and networks of PLHIV such as NZP+ will be
instrumental in ensuring the success of the process
• Therefore vital community voices and perspectives
need to be heard
• It is important that linkage to care receives
appropriate policy attention

10. • Mechanism to monitor the outcomes of self-
test must be in place
• Data on HIVST are limited therefore additional
research is needed
• Age of those who want to use self testing kits
must be considered
• Frameworks that ensures quality diagnostics
to give accurate results must be developed

11. • Human rights must be central

12. Thank you