Testing

The teen-aged girl was scared.

She had come for an HIV test.

Her uncle had been ill for some time, and she was looking after him.

He did not tell her what his disease was - but she had been repeatedly dressing his wounds and caring for him when he was bed-ridden.

Then at the end of last year she accompanied the rest of the family to a special meeting. It was organised by an group that works among people who have HIV.

During the meeting a presentation was made about what the organisation does - and it included the fact that the group monitors the medications of people who have HIV. On the slide being displayed was a picture of a bottle of medications that people with HIV use.

The girl recognised that this was the medication her uncle was using.

She was convinced that he had HIV.

She was scared, because she knew a little about HIV. She knew that it could spread through blood. She was scared, because she remembered the times she dressed her uncle's wounds without gloves.

Our counsellors talked to the girl. They helped her understand the extent of the risk she had exposed herself to (small, but still significant). They encouraged her to take a HIV antibody blood test. They listen to her fears, comforted her and prayed with her.

The next day she came for the test result. The counsellor was able to tell her that she was HIV negative. The girl was *so* happy. Her face just beamed.

Fear is real. Truth helps cut through the paralysis that fear brings.

Its a privilege to be part of the big picture of helping people confront the truth in their own lives.

HIV blood tests are one of the methods we use.