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Parliamentarians to test for HIV

    JOHANNESBURG
    In an effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, 12 members of parliament are expected to be tested on Friday at the New Start Centres for voluntary counselling and testing. Tendayi Westerhof, founder of the health and reproductive rights NGO, Public Personalities Against AIDS Trust, said the move by the parliamentarians to undergo HIV testing could help to influence more people to come to the centres and be tested. Westerhof was quoted by a local newspaper, The Herald, as saying: "Since members of parliament are public personalities, their actions influence the attitudes and general thinking of people who look up to them." The parliamentarians will receive counselling before being tested to help them cope with the possibility of a positive test result.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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