Turn up in large numbers for VCT, people of Chipangali told

People in Chipangali constituency in Chipata have been urged to turn up in large numbers for the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) day which falls on June 30 this year.

Great Commission for People’s Development and Orphans  (GCPDO) Health Coordinator, Belita Phiri, said people needed to know their HIV status as that was the only way organizations involved in HIV/AIDS activities could help them if found with the virus.

Ms. Phiri said people should go for VCT early despite their being healthy because
Antiretroviral drugs worked well in a person with a body which is still looking
health.

She was speaking when she addressed a GCPDO group at Nkalekale Basic school in
Chipangali constituency yesterday to prepare for the VCT day.

” I can tell you that Antiretroviral drugs work well in a body which is still
healthy and you should encourage people to go for VCT despite them looking
healthy,”Ms. Phiri said.

She said most of the people died from HIV/AIDS because of stigma.

Meanwhile, GCDPO in the area expressed concern that people that may want to be
tested for HIV had no hope that they would find help if they are found to be HIV
positive.

GCDPO Nkalekale group secretary, Euvet Mwale, said most people worried about how
they would travel to Chipata which is about 100 kilometers away  to access the ARV
services if found with the virus.

But Ms. Phiri said it was the reason why her organization was encouraging people to
go for VCT because it would come in and help the infected with transport to go for
their CD4 count tests and give food to those that were already on medication.

And most married women in the area said they had been going for VCT alone because
their husbands refused to accompany them.

Ms. Phiri encouraged the women to talk to their spouses about the importance of
going for VCT.