A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening campaign is being carried out in 25 health centers throughout the country, reported Luis Márquez and Igor González, project coordinator and medical coordinator, respectively, of the Venezuelan Association of Guidance Health Services. Christian (avessoc).
In an interview for Radio Faith and Joyindicated that the campaign intends to encourage people to take an HIV test in order to detect the virus early.
For González, it is necessary for a sexually active person to be periodically tested for HIV. He even considered that it is important because there are other scenarios in which the disease can be contracted, such as blood transfusions.
He recalled that a person with HIV can present symptoms similar to any viral process in the first two months of contact with the virus, then they can spend years without symptoms and not know it.
“It is important to screen. If I know that I am living with HIV, I can access antiretroviral treatment that will improve my quality of life. Currently, we have antiretroviral treatments that have few adverse symptoms in order to have a completely normal life,” Márquez explained to Radio Fe y Alegría.
“HIV is considered a chronic disease due to the ability of treatment to improve quality of life in a short time. If a person adheres to the treatment without stopping it, then the person will have an undetectable viral load, and therefore, untransmittable”, he added.
The 25 health centers that offer the test are located in Apure, Anzoátegui, Caracas, Barinas, Falcón, Mérida, Miranda, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Táchira, Sucre, Vargas, Zulia and other regions. Those who want to know the lists of the centers should access the page web of Avessoc and their social networks.
