At this event, I finally had the opportunity to test (you can see me being tested in the above picture). I have always wanted to test at one of our events, but I have been unable due to the limited capacity that our testing partners usually have. Even though I have not been engaging in any risky behaviors, it was still a nervewracking process. I underwent precounseling for about five minutes and then proceeded to the test, which was relatively easy and painless. A nurse pricked my finger and squeezed out a few drops of blood. After twenty minutes of waiting, I returned to find one line on the small testing strip. I was nervous because I could not remember if one line meant positive or negative. Fortunately, one line meant negative. However for that moment, I understood the panic that goes through the minds of all of our participants when they receive their results. I strongly advocate for everyone to test at our events and now I'm proud to be an example when questioned by people that are hesitant to test themselves.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
101 Tested
We had another big VCT last weekend and magically managed to test 101 people despite the typical chaos (teams arriving hours late or not showing up at all, testing partners insisting they must leave much earlier than planned, and complete obliteration of the detailed schedule, to name a few).
At this event, I finally had the opportunity to test (you can see me being tested in the above picture). I have always wanted to test at one of our events, but I have been unable due to the limited capacity that our testing partners usually have. Even though I have not been engaging in any risky behaviors, it was still a nervewracking process. I underwent precounseling for about five minutes and then proceeded to the test, which was relatively easy and painless. A nurse pricked my finger and squeezed out a few drops of blood. After twenty minutes of waiting, I returned to find one line on the small testing strip. I was nervous because I could not remember if one line meant positive or negative. Fortunately, one line meant negative. However for that moment, I understood the panic that goes through the minds of all of our participants when they receive their results. I strongly advocate for everyone to test at our events and now I'm proud to be an example when questioned by people that are hesitant to test themselves.
At this event, I finally had the opportunity to test (you can see me being tested in the above picture). I have always wanted to test at one of our events, but I have been unable due to the limited capacity that our testing partners usually have. Even though I have not been engaging in any risky behaviors, it was still a nervewracking process. I underwent precounseling for about five minutes and then proceeded to the test, which was relatively easy and painless. A nurse pricked my finger and squeezed out a few drops of blood. After twenty minutes of waiting, I returned to find one line on the small testing strip. I was nervous because I could not remember if one line meant positive or negative. Fortunately, one line meant negative. However for that moment, I understood the panic that goes through the minds of all of our participants when they receive their results. I strongly advocate for everyone to test at our events and now I'm proud to be an example when questioned by people that are hesitant to test themselves.
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