Intl Testing Day Promotes Responsible Sexual Behaviour

Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — Sexual responsibility will be one message being delivered by a local activity in commemoration of International Testing Day which happens to take place during the merriment of the St. Kitts Music Festival.

Coordinated by the National AIDS Secretariat in partnership with the Bank of Nova Scotia, residents are being encouraged to “Know their Status” by volunteering to take a free and confidential HIV test on Friday, June 27, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Bank Street, Basseterre.

Administered by qualified Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Providers, individuals will be counseled before and after the test and encouraged to maintain responsible sexual behavior. Individuals will receive their results at the close of the event, courtesy the Joseph N. France General Hospital Laboratory. It was anticipated that the Point of Contact (POC) testing would have been used on this occasion, however the National AIDS Secretariat has revealed that this is not possible due to a shipping delay, and blood will have to be drawn, as customary, in order to carry out the test.

In addition to the distribution of information relevant to HIV and sexual health in general, special features will include male and female condom placement demonstrations as well as dental dam use. All persons who volunteer for testing will also receive a special trinket donated by Scotiabank.