one hundred and twenty plus one hundred and thirteen equals two hundred and twenty three.

VCT testing day at Seet Kobor with the students and surrounding community.

I apologize in advance for the length of this post.

As promised to our students, we held two free HIV/AIDS testing days yesterday, for the students and surrounding community of Lake Solai and Seet Kobor Secondary School. Our expectations were far exceeded at both locations, although I can only write about my experience at Seet Kobor, as the QHO/YESS team split up to help out and work at both locations.

When we pulled up to Seet Kobor in our matatu, we were greeted with a warm welcome from more students than we expected to see so early in the morning. We were grateful and appreciative that the students, even on a Saturday, were willing to come to school to get tested. Getting tested translates into one knowing their status, which is something we, in our curriculum each and every day, stress as something that has the ability to empower students,

“Getting tested empowers us by giving us knowledge about what’s going on within our own bodies. Getting tested regularly enables us to catch the virus promptly and begin immediate treatment, increasing both the length and quality of our lives. Knowing our status empowers us with knowledge that allows us to make informed decisions regarding our sexual well-being and the well-being of those around us. Even if we test negative there are still benefits, as counselors can provide information and resources that will help us stay healthy and safe in the future. And, if we test positive, we can take control of the virus, rather than letting the virus take control of our lives, by seeking out medical treatment and implementing positive behavioral changes in our lives. Ultimately, only by knowing our status will we be able to stop the spread of HIV, and achieve an HIV/AIDs free youth generation in the future.”

For those who are unfamiliar with the HIV testing format, it is routinely divided into three parts: pre-test counseling, the actual HIV test, followed by post-test counseling. The entire process is confidential, in that, you are given a number in replacement of your name, and the results are discussed privately between you and the counselor. At Seet Kobor, in an attempt to save time and allow more people to be tested, pre-test counseling occurred in groups and three people were tested at a time by each of the three counselors. It was humbling when we sat in on the pre-test counseling, whereby the counselors discussed information about the HIV infection and AIDS, and all of the details discussed were part of our curriculum. For this reason, our students, although nervous at first, were able to answer all of the questions related to the transmission, prevention and treatment of the virus.

After group counseling, the voluntary testing began. Some students were eager to line up and get tested, while others needed some time to prepare and make their decision to be tested. One of our students was extremely nervous to get tested, and preferred we get tested with her, so I did. Essentially, after being given an explanation of the test and the possible test results, one line representing HIV negative and two lines signifying an HIV positive result, your finger is pricked and a small sample of your blood is blotted onto the test strip corresponding to your number. Chemicals and other buffer materials are added to the strip to test for the presence of antibodies that may have developed as part of your immune response to the virus, and you are asked to wait for approximately ten minutes. The student I tested with was exceptionally tense and anxious, with both her hands and lips shaking. She could hardly stop looking nervously at the test once her blood was blotted. After each of our tests had been administered, the second person tested and I left the room, so we could have individual post test counseling based on our results. Regardless of one’s status, the counselors discussed ways to be healthy and how to continue living positively.

Now that I have been tested, I feel more comfortable talking about the importance of getting tested and encouraging my students to get tested. In the classroom, I will be able to touch on my personal experience, and offer advice with a better understanding of the process.

Finally, although students began testing right when they got there, most stayed the entire time we were there, even when they had their results and knew their status. A variety of games were played, including versions of volley ball and soccer, one million photos were taken, dance lessons were given to the Canadians and some students even showcased their hidden rapping abilities. The testing day also wasn’t limited to students, as we had a large variety of people come to get tested, ranging from siblings and friends of students, boyfriends and girlfriends who came together, and some of the elders of the community.

Overall, our testing day finished when we ran out of kits in the afternoon, testing over two hundred students and community members between our two locations. The sheer number tested in one day far exceeded our expectations and the totals from last year, and I am incredibly excited to see what we can do during out outreach week at the end of project.


kwaheri.