63 Nizhnekamsk residents underwent free anonymous testing to determine their HIV status

26 March 2021, Friday

Today, 63 residents of Nizhnekamsk underwent free anonymous testing to determine their HIV status. The test-mobile with volunteers is located at the entrance to polyclinic #2.

The team in the red capes includes social and medical workers and volunteers from the nursing college. Their task is to motivate people to undergo rapid HIV testing. Volunteers conduct pre-test and post-test consultations for patients.

"In our questionnaires, we ask questions about a person's knowledge of HIV infection. We are available to tell reliable information on this topic. What is HIV, the ways of transmission, and, above all, we dispel the myths that people have about HIV infection," says Elena Presnova, a social worker of the Test for Victory project.

Nizhnekamsk residents donated blood directly to a mobile, specially equipped laboratory. The test results were ready in 2 minutes. This time, all the tests showed a negative result. If the test shows a positive result, specialists immediately conduct a consultation and refer the patient to a medical and preventive institution and accompany them if necessary.

The patient of the NRMH, Lyubov Mal’kova, in her 70 years, does not refuse testing.

"I came to the clinic to get vaccinated against coronavirus infection and at the same time to pass an HIV test. One does not interfere with the other. Now I have received a negative result, and with a calm heart, I will go to get vaccinated," L. Mal’kova shared with us.

The project "Test for Victory" is implemented with the Presidential Grants Fund's support by the charitable the New Century non-profit organization. In total, there are three such test-mobiles in the Republic. The campaign takes place in different cities and villages, including hard-to-reach settlements.

The volunteers remind us that HIV is not a sentence. Timely detection and proper antiretroviral therapy give patients with this diagnosis a chance to live a full life, create a family and raise healthy children.