Just one month following the kit's release, Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, Program Manager of the National Aids Control Programme (NACP), revealed that the number of people using HIV self-tests had skyrocketed.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Dr. Ayisi Addo stated that at the time of the initiative's launch, there were over 33,000 community requests, and in a short period of time, that number had quadrupled to over 70,000 demands.
As of now, he added, the program has had over 11,000 online requests, and distribution is still going on around the nation.
The oral mucosa test kit is used to test a person's oral condition for HIV. One of the newest tools in the arsenal of tactics designed to encourage Ghanaians to be tested and find out their HIV status is the HIV Self-Test (HIVST).
The package includes a white swab that resembles a spatula, an evaluation solution, a storage container for the test solution, and an instruction booklet for using the kit.
Prior to opening the kit, the test is conducted by looking for potential breakage or the expiration date. When the kit is opened, it is evident that the letters C and T have been used for calibration. The letter T stands for test, and the letter C for control.
The test is completed by gently rubbing the swab over the outer upper and lower gums many times. Then, you rapidly dip the swab into the solution and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, at which point the test is ready.
The test is considered reactive to HIV if it shows two lines crossing at both the C and T calibrations; in this case, a hospital test would need to be performed for confirmation. If the test results show a line in just the C calibration, they demonstrate that the person is HIV negative.
Persons who test negative are encouraged to keep their status, however those who test reactive must undergo three further tests at the health center for final confirmation and treatment if they are ultimately proved positive.
Dr. Ayisi Addo expressed worry that new infections were documented despite efforts to prevent new infections, promote condom usage, treatment, and care and support services.
"We have been doing all these things and yet in 2022, by the end of that year, 354,000 people were estimated to have HIV, while still picking a little over 16,000 new infections," he went on to say.
The campaign also targets persons who may not attend the testing center and a little more than 100,000 people who do not know their status.
The new plan, according to the Program Manager, is a game changer since "it is expanding the frontiers and access to treatment beyond the health facility, encouraging people to know their status in their own comfort and confidentiality."
Dr. Ayisi Addo stated that certain lessons were learned from the worldwide community, where there had been favorable reactions in their nations, which is why the adoption was made of the policy. He stated that a 2020 pilot saw a dividend with an approved rate of 80%, which people accepted with the present distribution.
He went on to say, "We are noticing a very high rate of first-time testers which tells us that if we had not done this, those people would never have been tested."
Dr. Ayisi Addo stated that the good news was that because HIV was private and confidential, individuals could choose whether or not to disclose to them, but luckily, they were reporting due to the counseling that came with it.
"We can tell that among those testing for the first time, there are people who are testing positive for the first time, and they are being linked to." "All of these people will have been missed because of their treatment," he continued.
The Programme Manager was confident that the new plan would assist to better the World Health Organization (WHO) worldwide ambition target of 95 95 95, where everyone was anticipated to know their HIV status.
He claimed that receiving therapy after testing positive would suppress the virus after six months and that the undetectable individual would not transfer the infection. He added to halt the HIV epidemic,” we need to first of all make sure that all the people, who are on treatment are virally suppressed, because treatment is prevention.”
"We have a situation where people have been married for a number of years and the virus is suppressed and there is no transmission because the person is on treatment." As a result, when a When a person fails to take a therapy or prescription, it becomes an issue, which is why adherence is so important," he explained.
Dr. Ayisi Addo stated that there is a pamphlet printed in both English and Twi to advise people in using the test kits, and that videos have been posted on social media to assist the public. He urged the public to take advantage of the plan and cooperate fully.
"I am appealing to Ghanaians to accept this new game changer, we have come very far from a state where one will have to go to a laboratory, which takes like two to three weeks to produce the results to now self-testing in the privacy and comfort of the individual," he went on to say.
He stated that Ghanaians may presently obtain HIV test kits from pharmacies and online, as well as log on to To make requests, go to www.hivselftestghana.com.
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