A number of health workers have completed their certification workshop training three weeks ago, according to Public Health’s HIV/STD treatment and resource center program manager, John Dax Moreno.
The Ora Quick, Advanced Rapid HIV Test, Moreno said, takes 20 minutes and does not require blood testing.
With the use of oral swab, a tissue from a person’s mouth can be tested for HIV.
The use of this new technology will make it much easier for people to get HIV test which is usually done through blood testing and takes two weeks to get the result.
There were new cases of HIV reported last year, in addition to the two cases in 2006.
Still facing the challenge of reaching the “under-tested local population,” Public Health and its community partners have focused their efforts on developing more access to testing services.
One factor that makes the local population under-tested is the access to services. There are individuals who don’t think the testing is for free.
Another factor is the stigma on the part of those in the at-risk groups.
Aside from not being ready to hear about the “bad news,” the assurance of confidentiality is also an issue among those being surveyed.
Since the CNMI is a very small community with local residents almost related to each other, those in the target population groups are not too confident that confidentiality will be guaranteed.
