Why You Need to Get Tested for HIV and AIDS Essay Example

I know you may be wondering whether you actually need to get tested for HIV and AIDS and the answer is Yes, you need it more than ever. The whole process is important for your personal health, relationship with other people, your life as well as help you plan for your future. One important thing that you need to be aware of is that HIV and AIDS is a preventable disease and at the same time, it has no cure from its offset. Getting tested will help you know the behaviours you need to change and the reasons for the same.

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Getting tested is a choice but at this point, it is advisable because it is part of routine medical care. There are several categories of people who require the annual screening more than anybody else. These are the individuals who are at risk of getting the disease and they include individuals who inject drugs as well as their sex partners, individuals exchanging sex for money, gays, bisexuals, sex partners of people living with HIV and the people having more than one sexual partner. However, more frequent testing which is every 3 to 6 months is required for those whose behavior puts them at a higher risk of the infection.

The top reason why you need to get tested is that it is crucial to be aware of your status. In the case where the results are positive, one will know how to lower the transmission of the disease. If the test comes out negative, you will be linked to the HIV prevention continuum. It is possible that you may not know you are infected with HIV because, in the initial stages, there may never be visible symptoms. To stay sure, why not take the test? It is quick, easy and very free.

Universal testing is necessary for public health efforts and the community as well. The ministry of public health does its best to create awareness about HIV infection and it is only better if one takes the initiative of getting the test. Whether at risk or not, you may not know everything about your interactions making it not okay to assume that you are good.

Current trends already put clearly that the youths are more prone to HIV and AIDS infection making it one big reason why you need the test. Universal testing benefits the community in that the individuals get educated on what they should do and the behaviors they need to change. Significant evidence shows that when people learn about their status especially those with HIV, they are likely to become more careful about the risky behaviors and hence reduce the chances of transmitting the same to others.

Conclusion

Testing and treatment play a great role in the prevention of the spread of HIV. Testing includes checking for the viral load and monitoring it. The risk of transmission at a stage when the viral load is undetectable is close to zero and with ART, one is helped to reduce the loads at the population health. Changing of behaviors that may put you at a higher risk of infection and the others as well is important for yourself and the people around you. You need to visit the center or do it on your own to make sure that you are safe.