Health units offer rapid tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis

In order to encourage prevention and facilitate public access to information, Criciúma epidemiological surveillance offers rapid and free tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C. tests are performed in the 48 basic health units at BHU. Municipal STD / HIV / AIDS (Pamdha) and psychosocial care centers (Caps) III and AD rapid tests.

According to the coordinator of the Pamdha, Patrícia Rodrigues, interested parties can attend the units closest to their homes with the identity card and the SUS card. "Tests can be performed from 18 months if the mother carries the disease.However, children need medical clearance for the examination, in addition to being accompanied. 14 years old, she does not need an escort, "she says.

Patrícia says that about 1,200 HIV and syphilis tests are performed per month. "The result is ready at the time .If it is positive for syphilis, other lab tests are done .In some situations, the person has already had the disease but is still detected in the test If the HIV, if a test is positive is done another test to confirm.If both are positive, it is confirmed that the person has the disease, "he explains.

The prediction is to care for HIV-positive people in the municipality's UBS in July. "Patients with a stable condition will be treated, people will follow up." Patrícia points out that the municipality has about 4,500 people with HIV.

Hepatitis B and C

Rapid tests of hepatitis B and C can also be performed on all UBS and Caps III and Criciuma AD. According to the coordinator of the Viral Hepatitis Program, Fabiana De Brida, the Ministry of Health released in March a treatment for hepatitis C for the entire population, with a 95% chance of recovery. "Hepatitis is a silent disease and without symptoms, often the population does not know that she has the disease," he warns.

In July, a campaign on hepatitis begins in Criciúma, in reference to the World Day of Fighting Viral Hepatitis, celebrated on July 28th. Fabiana explains that the goal is to perform the rapid test across the population. The Ministry of Health wants to eradicate hepatitis C by 2030.

"We are using a new treatment with no side effects." Since 2015, 172 people have followed treatment and only six have not been able to cure.Every year, we performed 18,000 rapid tests of hepatitis B and C, "he says.

Collaboration Decom / Criciúma