HIV self-testing expanded

Increased uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) and other HIV prevention measures was one of the benefits of an HIV self-testing initiative now being expanded to South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho, IOL News reports. In South Africa, more than 2 million test kits will be distributed to improve access to HIV testing and increase the percentage of people who are aware of their HIV status. In Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, this initiative demonstrated that first-time testers, young people, and more men could be reached with self-testing, and 60 to 90 percent of people in rural areas took up the offer to self-test. Many who tested positive were successfully referred for treatment, and men who tested negative were more likely to use HIV prevention services, such as VMMC (IOL News, 27 September 2017).