With the continued proliferation of HIV/AIDS, African governments are doing their best to reduce transmission. An in-home HIV test kit will be available in pharmacies soon to help individuals test themselves for the infection.

The HIV test kit was launched in the United Kingdom in 2016 to give people who do not want to undergo lab test or pre-testing counseling a more discrete alternative.

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African health agencies will be sanctioning the use of the home kit. The home kit will be convenient for people who live in far-flung areas of Africa.

However, a fear of committing suicide has been discussed along with the arrival of home kit for individuals. Nevertheless, there is no study to support the claim that people would commit suicide upon learning that they have the disease.

"You have to remember that it is a choice to go through that experience of self-testing. There has to be a change of mindset, you know how people in the past have said that if they test positive, they may kill themselves or self-harm. There has been no evidence that people self-harm as a result of an HIV test and every HIV test has to be confirmed by a medical practitioner," The Citizen quoted BioSURE CEO Bridget Bard saying.

The approval of in-home HIV testing will undoubtedly make a huge difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. According to the latest recent statistical data by the World Health Organization, the sub-Saharan Africa accounts for two-thirds of the global total of new HIV infections.

There is no cure for HIV infection yet, which is why early detection of the disease is important to control the virus. With the availability of in-home HIV test kit, health agencies are hoping for reduced cases of infection.

Check out some ways to prevent HIV/AIDS in the video below: