Uganda President's Very Public HIV Test. Will You Test Next?

Finally we have political leaders who are making the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Africa a priority. We applaud the openness of some African leaders like President Jacob Zuma and President Yoweri Musevni publicly testing and leading the way in tackling HIV.

Ugandan officials have said they want to test 15 million people by the end of 2014 in a campaign led by the Uganda AIDS Commission. "Therefore, all Ugandans, test (for HIV). Find out your status and let the state and health workers manage you accordingly," said President Yoweri Museveni.
Leading by example is a good thing and will lessen the stigma around these HIV tests and perhaps encourage Ugandans to find out their HIV status through testing. Maybe the campaign also just might persuade people to get off the sexual network, who knows.

 

President Jacob Zuma revealed his HIV results at launch of a similar HIV testing campaign in Johannesburg back in 2010 which aimed to reach nearly one in three South Africans. It was his fourth HIV test and he was negative. The campaign led by SA National AIDS Council, also aimed to reach 15 million people by June 2011 by offering free tests at public clinics, and at discount pharmacies including Clicks using government-supplied testing kits.

I hope this popular mobilisation around HIV counselling and testing will reach millions of Ugandans as planned.