Health department offers rapid test for HIV/AIDS

As part of the National HIV Rapid Testing Day, health authorities reported that testing services are available to HIV patients in all health centres, mobile units, maternal and child hospitals and general hospitals. community, this tool allows us to stop infections by detecting and treating disease promptly.

Norma Alicia Olmedo Navarro, director of the Tijuana Health Services jurisdiction’s HIV, sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis C program, explained that while some people get sick with HIV with the same characteristics as the flu A common cold or cold is very similar, but often requires regular testing without any symptoms, so the only way to know if the virus is present in the body is through a rapid test.

The test, which can be requested for free at any health center or mobile unit, involves taking a drop of blood from your finger and placing it into a device. You can get your results in a few minutes. If the result is positive, the patient will be referred to the Outpatient Center for AIDS Prevention and Care (CAPASITS) or the Service Area General Hospital Care (SAIH) for follow-up testing to confirm the diagnosis and confirm the diagnosis. Next treatment.

Informed consent must be obtained from the patient to undergo testing. This is recommended every six months or annually when you have multiple partners and you won’t be using protection on any of them.

Some patients have requested regular rapid testing as a self-protection measure.

Health staff, for their part, are trained to be sensitive to the situation and inform patients appropriately. Proof of this is that almost 100% of people who test positive for rapid tests go to CAPASITS or CAE for treatment.

Olmedo Navarro recalled that health authorities provided drugs that allowed HIV/AIDS patients to live a good quality of life, although it had to be permanently controlled.

HIV/AIDS is managed as a chronic disease, and people who adhere to treatment live longer. Other rapid tests available and free include testing for syphilis and hepatitis C.