Annual pre-Valentines HIV/AIDS testing programme kickstarted

The National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) kickstarted its annual “Test of love” activity
yesterday (Saturday), just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony noted that the annual event has been seeing almost 80,000
couples turning out to be tested each year. “This programme is an annual programme that we
have been doing for a number of years now, and really it is to get couples to come in and get
tested around Valentine’s Day,” he said.
Dr. Anthony encouraged persons, especially younger couples, to come out and be tested. He said
the programme helps persons know their HIV/AIDS status. “It is something that we do to just
make sure that people are aware, especially younger persons…and we encourage everyone who
think they might be at risk for HIV to come in to one of our sites, and they can get tested and, in
this case, what we’re encouraging them to do is to come with their partners, so it’s one way of
celebrating valentine’s day,” he said.
He noted that testing was done at various locations, including Mon Repos Market Square, City
Mall, Demico House car park, Georgetown Seawalls and Giftland Mall in Region Four. Other
locations that saw testing being done was the Parika Market Square in Region Three, For the
Children Sake in Region 10 and Hope Foundation in Region Seven. Moreover, he noted that
with implementations currently being made, it is the government’s hope to see an end to
HIV/AIDS in the country by 2030.
During his address in commemoration of World AIDS Day, two months ago, the minister had
stressed that despite the effects of the pandemic, this goal is still realistic. “Despite COVID we
can work to end AIDS by 2030. This has been a dream for a lot of people for a long time. If we
stay on track and if we work hard, we can be able to do that, and that’s what we have to set our
sights on,” he had said.
Minister Anthony noted that among the measures being advanced is the introduction of pre-
exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which will reduce the risk of infection in persons who have been
exposed to the virus.  The health ministry is also working to re-enforce sexual education in the
school system, while encouraging more persons to get tested for the disease.