People who feel the need for an HIV test are encouraged to participate — along with their partners — in the “We-Check” HIV testing program, launched by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The program is supported by medical facilities and civil groups and is an attempt to boost the screening rate through the influence of people’s personal networks.
The agency yesterday cautioned young people against unprotected sex during the four-day Mid-Autumn Festival, urging them to protect themselves, and encouraged those who feel the need to undertake HIV testing to participate in the new program.
We-Check has been designed to take a different approach to increasing the levels of screening by relying on social networks for the promotion and awareness raising of HIV testing, the disease control agency said.
People who are persuasive and strongly believe in early HIV testing can go to any of the 127 “We-leader” recruitment centers, most of which are local health centers, across the country to register to become We-leaders, the agency said.
Leaders can invite their families, partners or friends to participate in the We-Check testing.
Participants will not be required to show photo identification to receive the health consultation and free anonymous testing at any of the 423 We-Check consultation and testing centers nationwide.
The health authority is also offering a NT$100 convenience store coupon for people who completed the HIV screening, as an incentive.
We-leaders can also earn points for rewards by inviting more people to undertake the test.
The campaign of coupon offering and point accumulating started on Aug. 1 and will continue through Oct. 31, the agency said.
Those who are interested in participating can visit the program Web site (http://we-check.tw) for further information.
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