Regional Testing Day gives residents an opportunity to find out their HIV status

On Friday St. Kitts and Nevis will take part in regional testing day allowing residents to find out their HIV status.

National AIDS Programme Coordinator, Gardenia Destang-Richardson, said the testing will be free, confidential and fast; with results in 15 minutes.

She also noted that this is part of a week of activities at various workplaces.

“We’ve gone out to some workplaces throughout the week and Scotiabank, as one of our partners, have indicated that they’d be interested in having that test done at their workplace during this week and so we’ve been going to different workplaces during the week and we’re going to have this big showdown on Friday on Princes Street not Bank Street, we’ve had to make a change in the venue. We’re inviting all of the public to come out and access free HIV confidential testing,” she said.

She encouraged everyone, particularly couples to go out and get tested.

“Some people often go around saying ‘What you don’t know won’t kill you’. Well what you don’t know will kill you,” she remarked.

She added “We have medication, we have systems and services in place in St. Kitts Nevis to ensure that if you are positive you can live (a) long and healthy and productive life. You can live a normal life. And it’s better to know your HIV status, whether positive or negative so you can be proactive in taking care of your health”

Regional Testing Day falls under the banner of the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV with the assistance of Scotiabank and the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS.

The theme for this year’s campaign is “Are You Positive You Are Negative?”

Regional Testing Day in Nevis would be Thursday, June 23, in the administrative building parking lot, Charlestown, Nevis while in St. Kitts it takes place on Friday June 24, on Princes Street, Basseteree from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.