South Africa: Increase in HIV testing among men who have sex with men

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of men who have sex with men who took HIV tests over the past few months.

Since November, health non-governmental organisation Right to Care said they had been able to reach out to more than 10 million men as part of their Me1st campaign.

The campaign is aimed at empowering men to put their health first, get tested for HIV and go on to antiretroviral treatment if they test positive.

The organisation said men who had sex with men, also referred to as MSM, “face devastating stigma and discrimination in society but especially when seeking healthcare services”.

Right to Care MSM marketing co-ordinator Andrew Lethole said: “There has been a dramatic increase in the number of MSM who have tested for HIV in urban and hard-to-reach areas across South Africa. As a result of our Me1st movement, a high percentage of the men who tested HIV-positive have been supported in accessing healthcare services and are now on antiretroviral treatment.” Read more via IOL