Scientists pose problems to HIV testing,

April 5, 2007

Laboratory scientists constitute obstacles in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, the International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programme (ICAP) said.

ICAP's country director Dr Bolanle Oyeledun stated this yesterday at the 'National HIV/AIDS forum' in Abuja.

He said the scientists and technologists did not support the idea of allowing other health workers to conduct rapid tests on HIV.

She said laboratory scientists believed that if other health workers conducted the tests, they could lose their jobs.

Oyeledun said such belief was wrong because there were too many tests left for the scientists, and said the interest in rapid test was to put a check on the spread of HIV.

There were indications that the federal government would soon find a solution to the problem, she disclosed.

'House deliveries', a situation where women gave birth in their homes without the support of health workers, she said, had created difficulties in fighting the scourge.

She said men should be involved to encourage their wives to attend antenatal clinics and for a clearer picture of HIV prevalence.

Oyeledun said it was important for doctors to get additional training as counsellors on HIV/AIDS for them to do the job well.

A resource person at the forum, Mrs Rosemary Nnamdi-Okagbue, said the problem included inadequacy of counsellors and their quality.

The national chairman, Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Task Team, Prof. Edward Emuveyan, said the provision of anti-retroviral drugs was a major challenge. (NAN)