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H.I.V. Testing
If you remotely doubt that you are H.I.V. infected, get yourself tested at the following recommended testing Centers. |
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Getting tested for HIV/AIDS Mumbai In case people are interested in getting themselves tested for HIV/AIDS, here's some information on how: The basic test can be done at a number of places, and the costs vary. The last time I had one done through my rather expensive GP at Pedder Road it cost 600/-. But its possible to have a reliable test done with proper pre-test counselling (and post test too, of course, in case the result is positve) at no cost. All one has to do is go to Sion Hospital to Out Patients Depatment #16 (OPD 16 or Skin OPD as its called). Its on the 2nd floor of the New College Building in Sion Hospital, and you can ask to speak to Dr.Maninder Sethia, or to Drs Anand, Santosh or Gautam. The phone number is 4043732. You can go any day from 9.00-12.00 am and they'll take the blood sample, and you'll get the test result 6 days later, though I think they prefer if you come on a Friday or Saturday, when they have full counselling support. I think there's a pretest counsellor there called Mr.Neil all the time. Alternately, the sample can be given at the Humsafar centre in Santacruz East, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5.00-8.00 pm. The doctors from Sion Hospital who will be there at those times will give a full check up for all sexually transmitted diseases, and will take the blood sample for the HIV test. The results will have to be collected from Sion Hospital though since they feel that the post test counselling, if needed, is best done in the hospital. Please note that in both places the testing is absolutely free, is very thorough, and that your confidentiality will be absolutely respected. If you can't go to Humsafar, but are still apprehensive of how you'll be treated at the hospital, you can tell them you have been referred through Humsafar and you will be treated separately, with some formalities waived and given a separate area in which to wait. There's no easy way to do testing, or to alleviate the anxieties that come with doing it (no matter how safe you think you've been). But it is possible to do it fairly efficiently and with proper counselling available if needed and this is how. A new voluntary testing facility connected to Humsafar Trust goes on line on December 1st, World AIDS Day this year. The VTC is at the Cooper Hospital's blood bank section behind the new OPD.It will be open every day between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, the Humsafar Trust's pre-test and post test counselors and positive person group manager sit in Ward 24 near by for any help needed only on Tuesday and Thursdays.
The Address: This facility of the Humsafar Center for positive persons from the gay and MSM community also counsels the women partners of MSM and an average of eight persons attend the counselor's sessions each Tuesday and Thursday between 9 a.m.and 1 p.m. The VTC started after advocacy with the BMC health authorities that MSM did not have any facility in the western suburbs. The VTC is open to everyone on all days but it is open with a special counselor for MSM only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
New Delhi
-- Vikram |