Posted 31 August 2005 The following information has been kindly sent in regarding the latest information on HIV testing. A new toll-free number has been created for the HIV/AIDS Hotline. The new number is 0-800-700-8000. This allows callers from outside Cairo to call in with no extra charge. The Ministry of Health and Population now offers free HIV/AIDS medications for those requiring them (not all HIV-postiive persons require treatment. This is determined based on medical tests). You can contact the hotline for more information. Reminder: annonymous voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is available in various locations. In Cairo, it is available at the Ministry's Central Labs, 17, Sheikh Rihan Street. The Hotline can give you more information. Posted 19 June 2004 The following information from a UN AIDS related organization was forwarded to us by "Prince of Egypt" in 2004 - Note to non-Egyptians - please read the important note at the page bottom. Currently the only place to (get an HIV test) is at a non-governmental organization called 'Refugees Egypt'. They have an HIV/AIDS programme which includes testing. They do not request any form of identification to take the test, so it is annonymous. In addition, they offer pre and post-test counselling which allows you to assess your risks and is definately recommended and required by international standards - counselling is not available at the central labs yet. 'Refugees Egypt' is located in the All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek. That is between the Marriot hotel and the British International School. The exact address is 5, LotfAllah Street, Zamalek. Tel: 7364836 / 7. You can just show up at 'Refugees Egypt' and ask for an HIV test. They will do it for you at a cost of LE 20. They will perform a test called 'rapid test' which will give you a result in 20 minutes. This is acceptable by international standards. It is better to go between 9am-3pm on a Saturday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday when Dr. Eman, the Health Director, is there, but you can go any other time if you don't care for her to be there. Your other option is to do the HIV test in the Central Labs (al maamil al markazeya) of the Ministry of Heatlh. It is located across from the American University in Cairo. These labs are accurate in their results because they are the only facilities in Egypt that have access to certain tests. They conduct 3 tests in a row to confirm the results. However, if you go directly to the labs, you will be requested to provide details about your name, address, ID number, etc. and they do not offer counseling at all. The test will cost around LE30. While, this may scare many people, it is only as a matter of bureaucracy because even if you do test positive (in shaa Allah you won't), they only refer you to the National AIDS Programme for counselling. But if you would like to do this test anonymously, you can call the National AIDS Programme's HIV/AIDS Hotline and request that they make an exception for you, which I understand they do. The HIV/AIDS Hotline number: 3152802, 3152801. Your third option would be to go to a private testing lab. They are numerous and you can find them almost anywhere in Cairo. They will perform the test for you annonymously. They might ask for a name, but you can give a fake one and they don't ask for any more information. The test there would cost around LE 80. IMPORTANT NOTE: If the person going for the test is not Egyptian, it is recommended they do the test at 'Refugees Egypt' or at a private lab. It is not recommended that they do it at a governmental lab because Egyptian law stipulates (contrary to international guidelines) that an HIV-positivie person must be deported. |