Even as testing sites were still operational last evening, figures released by the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) indicated that the target set for the national week of testing had been exceeded by more than 1,500 persons.

The NAPS had set 10,000 as the number of people it hoped would be tested between Monday and today at the permanent and temporary testing sites that were operational throughout Guyana.
NAPS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health on Monday launched its week of national testing under the theme ‘Take action, take the Test’.

Programme Manager Dr Shanti Singh has said she was “very optimistic and confident that her department will achieve or possibly surpass the target of 10,000” as Guyanese have come a long way with voluntary counselling and testing. Singh pointed out that the week of testing was “a demonstration of the level of involvement now more than ever as it relates to HIV.”

According to NAPS, at 6 pm yesterday some 11,584 persons were tested; 93 of whom tested HIV positive.