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Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile has endorsed a saliva-based HIV test kit set to determine one's HIV status in approximately five seconds, in the privacy of one's home.

Developed over three years by world-acclaimed scientist Edward Ayensu, the Gaifar Instant Screen Rapid Test is said to have been approved in many countries in Africa, including the US, China and Vietnam.

Author and researcher Professor Ayensu met with the Premier yesterday in the province, to introduce the test kit that he said was '100 percent accurate and relatively cheap compared to existing HIV testing methods'.

Backing the province's destigmatisation campaign, Prof Ayensu said millions of people infected with the virus in Africa died quickly due to the high levels of ignorance and denial that the virus existed.

He advised people not to wait until their immune system had been broken down but to test as soon as possible, so doctors could offer medication in time.

He added that resources against HIV/AIDS in the country should be utilised before the disease ravaged people. 'Because when that happens, no amount of anti-biotics would work.'
The Eastern Cape will avail the test once discussions with relevant stakeholders have been undertaken.

The Premier's spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the matter would be brought before the province's executive council soon, to consider policy implications thereof.

Hoping that the council would approve the kits, Mr Wolela said once that had been done, funds would be made available to procure them.

Reverend Stofile promised that the starting point would be identifying the most accessible places, which people could find easy to reach.

'The use of the tests is something that we cannot compel people to do. All that we can do as government is to encourage people to test and find out their status so that if a person were to be tested and found to be positive, then that people will do everything possible not to spread the disease.'
He added that spreading the disease would mean liability to manslaughter or premeditated murder.

'Knowledge of one's HIV status would assist prevent the spread of it to others and if a person tested negative, one would naturally work to make sure they remain so forever.'
Praising the kit, he said Prof Ayensu had developed an effective, efficient and scientific way of finding out one's status in seconds.

'This is an important tool that we should use as government so that people know their status, so that we can work towards fighting the disease.' - BuaNews

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