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Kenya to launch HIV self-test kit in 2017

Xinhua, December 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya plans to launch a HIV oral self-test kit in March 2017 to help achieve a goal that 90 percent of Kenyans know their HIV status, officials said on Wednesday.

Head of the National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Program (NASCOP), Martin Sirengo, said the current HIV testing strategies where people have to go to a health care facility was not inclusive.

"Currently only 70 percent of the population know their status due to a number of challenges. Due to stigma, some people don't want to go to health facilities to get tested for HIV," Sirengo said during a meeting on community-based HIV testing and counseling in Kenya.

"We are losing a lot of opportunities to help curb the spread of HIV by putting more HIV patients on treatment," said Sirengo, who is also Deputy Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved two oral HIV self-testing kits.

The NASCOP is currently developing guidelines and standard operating procedures for the use of the kits, which will initially be distributed for free.

Testing via the kits is convenient as an individual can swipe the kit in the mouth and wait for a few minutes for the results.

"If the tests are positive you should go to confirm the results in a health facility," Sirengo said.

In July, Kenya launched new HIV Treatment and Prevention guidelines to expand testing strategies in the country.

Part of the funding for the oral kits will come from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria TB. Kenya is expected be first country in East African region to launch the kits. Endit