Mumbaikars will now be able to opt for free Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests at One Rupee Clinic from December 1, 2017. For the same, the clinic joined hands with Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS).
With the help of doctors, you have to prick the tip of your finger and within 15 minutes, they will find out their HIV results. They will be able to do the same with the help of self-kits which will be provided by MDACS. Along with this, the doctors will be trained to carry out the HIV tests as well.
We will be starting this service from December 1 on Mankhurd station on an experimental basis and will extend the service seeing the response. Usually, people don’t go for HIV screenings and we aim to help such people. If they get diagnosed at an early stage, they will be able to go for treatment,” Dr Rahul Ghule, Founder, One Rupee Clinic.
We will train doctors about the use of HIV self-test kits on Monday by providing them with testing kits,” Dr Shrikala Acharya, Additional Project Director, MDACS.
In a general lab, one has to shell out INR 250 for an HIV test while it is free in civic-run hospitals. But in private hospitals, the same test costs INR 700 to INR 800.
HIV is a viral infection which attacks the immune system and when it develops into its last stage, it is known as AIDS. The United Nations AIDS division plans to eliminate AIDS by 2030.