Taking a Test

by Tunde, Nigeria

The Decision...

I finally decided to go for HIV test.

For the past couple of months, I had been taking different groups of young people, particularly those in secondary school, on reproductive health issues. Each time I taught sexual health issues, I had to discuss Sexually Transmitted Infections, and each time I had to talk about HIV infection and HIV testing. Yet, I hadn’t gone for a test myself.

The Test...

In January 2007, my moment of decision had come. That was when I decided to go for the test. I mean how bad could it be? I had met about 10 people who were living with the virus, though they were of the privileged few who benefited from the antiretroviral drug subsidy made available by the government, and they seemed to be taking it well. So on that faithful morning I stepped into the PEPFAR Clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan in Oyo state, South West Nigeria to get tested for HIV and for the first time I saw a lot of HIV positive people. They had to be HIV positive because they weren’t waiting to receive pre-test or post-test counseling. It seemed like they were waiting to get their drugs.

There were all sorts of people there: mothers with their babies, pregnant women, market women, a few middle class folk. Every now and then a physician would pass and greet all of them. The place was rowdy and bustling with activity – laughter, scolding, shuffling of feet etc. Sitting among them then I didn’t feel awkward at all. I had had enough contact with PLWH while conducting trainings to have overcome my initial fears, which of course were fuelled by ignorance. At least PLWH knew where they stood.

A Lot to Lose?

I wonder why it’s so difficult to just go for a test. It may either come out positive or negative. What do you have to loose? A whole lot I’m afraid. In Africa, stigma from being HIV positive is enough to drive one to his grave early, even without opportunistic infections.

Well, here I was today, waiting to get my test done. I inquired from one of the nurses which room I was to go to, and I was directed to a small room in the corner of the building, just by the entrance. I walked in and was greeted by a middle aged man, with a warm smile. He pulled out a form and began filling it while asking me reasons why I wanted to get an HIV test. He asked if I knew the implications of a positive result… all the while my answers were positive; my only hope was that my result wouldn’t be positive as well.

He gave me a tally and directed me to the Department of Virology to get tested. While waiting my turn in the hall, I began reminiscing. I remembered my internship project while I was in university; I had worked with a lot of blood then. And though I was advised to wear gloves always when running tests, but I must confess, I didn’t adhere to that important piece of advice all the time. What if I had a wound on my fingers when the serum spilled unto them? Soon afterwards I got tested and was asked to come back 2 days later.

Those were not exactly the longest 48 hours of my life, because I had done all the thinking before I went for testing. Now, all I had to do was wait, and wait, and wait.

The Relief of Knowing...

Finally, the day came and I was glad to find out that I had tested negative – a positive result indeed! I went back to the PEPFAR Clinic where I was asked to ensure that the result remained negative by avoiding receiving unscreened blood, sharing unsterilized sharp instruments, and unprotected sex – though I plan on “zipping up” till I marry. If you are out there and you haven’t gotten tested for HIV yet, it’s best you go out right now and do that! The earlier the better.