Do you think that targeting HIV testing at high risk groups might be a more effective way of identifying people who are unaware of their HIV status than conducting routine testing among all U.S. residents ages 13 to 64?

UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM IN AIDS (UNAIDS) AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
October 15, 2019 Off All,

United Nations Program in AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Release New HIV Testing Guidelines. Source: “AIDS Update 2013”. Ch. 13: Testing for Human Immunodeficiency virus.It is estimated that worldwide only 10% of persons at risk for HIV infections receive HIV testing. In mid-2007, UNAIDS and the WHO released new HIV testing guidelines that advise healthcare workers in countries with an HIV prevalence greater than 1% to routinely offer confidential, voluntary HIV tests to all patients seeking treatment at clinics or hospitals regardless of why they initially sought care. In March 2010, South Africa’s government announced their “First Thing First”, a university-based plan to test 15 million residents for HIV by June 2011. All public health facilities, fixed and mobile, were equipped to offer HIV testing and to provide antiretroviral therapy to move toward the goal of halving the rate of HIV infection by 2011. Their plan failed!. On April 15, 2010, South Africa also launched a new effort aimed at providing AIDS drugs to 80% of those needing treatment by 2015. Discussion Question: Do you think that targeting HIV testing at high risk groups might be a more effective way of identifying people who are unaware of their HIV status than conducting routine testing among all U.S. residents ages 13 to 64? Do you think that perhaps the CDC should just consider what changes it can implement to make it easier for people to learn their HIV status and go with that?