The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : HIV/AIDS test centre set up in Madurai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

HIV/AIDS test centre set up in Madurai

WANT TO take up responsibility for your own health and set your mind at ease. Then get your blood tested at `Samudhaya Nalavazhvu Alosanai Mayyam' in Madurai.

If you test positive for HIV, you get a chance to begin taking steps early to live a long and healthy life. And if you test negative, you will get a chance to know more about the disease.

As a step towards its goal of achieving a HIV/AIDS-free district, the PACHE Trust, a non-governmental organisation, is running the Mayyam in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development and AIDS Prevention And Control Project, Chennai, at K. Pudur.

In the Mayyam, the test is divided into three phases: the pre-test counselling, testing and post-test counselling. Before the test, a well-trained person counsels the individuals. After the test, if the client turns out to be HIV positive, he is given special attention and psychological support including sessions on `opportunistic infections and steps to prevent and tackle such infections' apart from providing the person with psychological courage to face the world.

If the tests turn negative, the client is given information about the ABCs (Abstinence, Be faithful to your partner and Condom usage) of the dreadful disease.

In all, the client is given counselling to move from the high-risk group to the low-risk group and ultimately into the no-risk group.

In all, the best part is that the process is done in `complete confidentiality,' so anybody who wants to get themselves checked can visit the `Samudhaya Alosanai Mayyam' where tests are conducted free. Get yourselves tested and breathe a sigh of relief.

From S.S. Kavitha in Madurai

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