The Ministry of Health has said that the using of HIV self-test kits among the key population is high. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng says while it’s too early to evaluate how many people are using test kits, she says monthly reports to the ministry are showing high uptake, although concrete data about use patterns will be ready by September.

While HIV self-test kits were targeted to be primarily used by men since studies had found men especially those aged between 40 to 49 years had poor HIV testing coverage and yet this group has high prevalence, the Ministry of Health says the number using the kits is now high especially among the fishermen and men who have sex with fellow men and sex workers.

Makerere University is currently conducting a study among the fishermen of Kasensero landing site to test uptake and Dr. Joseph Matovu, the lead researcher from the School of Public Health said they initially gave out 298 kits to peer leaders in the area to give people in their social networks. Read more via Independent