Pils was at Rose-Hill yesterday.
From November 18 to 24, the NGO Prevention Information Fight against AIDS (PILS) is launching the fifth edition of the International Screening Week (SID) in Mauritius. This event, organized in seven locations across the country, aims to provide free screening tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C, while raising public awareness about sexual health.
The tour started yesterday at Place Margéot, Rose-Hill, at 10 a.m. On the program: screening, advice, musical entertainment and distribution of preventive equipment. Mobile units will also roam the streets to reach a wider audience. The next stages include Roche-Bois (today), Trou d’Eau Douce (tomorrow), Grand-Baie (November 22), Flacq and Baie du Cap (November 23), before closing on November 24 in Grand-Bay (November 22), Gaube.
This initiative, supported by Coalition Plus and other local and international partners, is part of a global movement involving 50 countries. The objective: to promote access to screening and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Since its launch in 2020, the SID has recorded a 208.5% increase in the number of tests carried out, reaching 73,931 screenings in 2023.
A collective effort
In addition to screenings, parallel activities, such as blood donation and diabetes screening, will be organized in certain localities through partnerships with local organizations, including DRIP, Makondé and Kinouété. This mobilization also benefits from the support of local forces and authorities.
According to Nicolas Ritter, coordinator of the SID, this initiative responds to an emergency: around 14,000 Mauritians currently live with HIV, and nearly 400 new cases are detected each year. Screening allows early treatment, essential to limit transmission and ensure a normal life for HIV-positive people thanks to appropriate treatment.
Protect yourself and act
Screening is quick, discreet and effective. It includes counseling sessions to provide information on procedures and STIs. Early detection not only allows you to preserve your health, but also to avoid any transmission. Faced with the increase in infections within the general population, PILS recalls the importance of getting tested after taking a risk.
For more information, go to one of the localities visited or follow PILS activities on social networks.
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