Uzbekistan will offer rapid HIV tests nationwide by 2026
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Uzbekistan plans to place HIV self-testing devices throughout the country by the end of 2026, after a pilot program saw over 300 people use the technology.
Maftuna Saidova, a press secretary for the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, shared the information during a public briefing on October 20. The country introduced the program through a Presidential Resolution in January 2023 to expand access to confidential HIV screening and identify infections early.
The Taxomat devices, which analyze saliva samples and deliver results in 20 to 40 minutes, are currently available in crowded public spaces like airports and train stations. They’ve already been installed in the capital, Tashkent, and in airports serving the Andijan, Namangan, Surkhandarya, Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Khorezm, Samarkand, and Ferghana regions, as well as in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and a sanatorium in Jizzakh Region. People using the devices scan their identification to connect test results with follow-up care.
A positive result from the self-test requires confirmation with laboratory testing, and those diagnosed with HIV will receive free medical care and antiretroviral therapy. Health officials state that adherence to treatment allows people living with HIV to live healthy lives for many years.
