HIV Testing in the Military
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to spread worldwide, and approximately 60% of -infected individuals are not aware of their infection. The stigma and discrimination that affect HIV positive have continuously impacted the HIV testing services acceptance around the world. In the United States military, the provision for the testing of HIV is once every two years. There is a need for a change in the recommended testing period for those in the military, especially for the individuals who are gay. In the United States of America, Bisexual and gay men are the ones that are highly affected by HIV than any other category. (Dyk, G. p 46)
Civilian applicants also need to be tested before recruitment to the military. Individuals infected with HIV are disqualified medically from joining the service. The test is essential since it helps minimize the recruitment of sick individuals and might not be able to persevere the hardships that military personnel go through during training and in line of duty.
An increase in the exposure risk those gay and bisexual men in the military have towards contraction of HIV calls for a change in the period that they should be tested for the virus to ensure they live healthily and do not transmit the virus to their partners. There is the need for the HIV testing period for the people in the military to be increased and education regarding the high exposure that the gay and bisexual military are exposed to and different ways of countering the spread among this community in the military.
Nearly 1 in 7 gay and bisexual men in the military living with HIV are unaware they have it. To be able to deal with the continued spread of HIV, one of the major steps is to know your status. A large percentage of the gay and bisexual men in the military are not aware of their status and hence are not receiving the medication to ensure healthy living and reduce the likelihood of the spreading of the virus to their partners. To reduce the transmission and encourage healthy living for those affected, the military needs to increase the testing period for the gay and bisexual men at least twice a year. (Dyk, G. p 60)
Frequent testing for the gay and bisexuals in the military will reduce the stigmatization and discrimination of this community in the military. If the frequent testing facilities are included in the military, the stigmatization that affects gay and bisexual men based on the HIV contraction and transmission risks they face will reduce. People will readily accept them and appreciate their sexual orientation without judging them on the HIV exposure that they are facing.
Frequent testing of HIV should be implemented in the military to ensure that the spread of AIDS is controlled in the military. Testing for the virus after two years may be late in some instances since the virus’s chances of being spread to more people within the two years are very high. In a case where the testing is done every six months among the gay community in the military, the spread of the disease will be controlled since the individuals diagnosed with the virus will start medication immediately. The military men who will be diagnosed positive will protect their partners through various ways such as the use of protection during sexual activities and taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV.
Frequent testing of HIV among military men, especially the gay and bisexual, will help communicate safer sex, testing, and other HIV prevention issues among them. The frequent testing period will allow them to learn the various ways they can protect themselves from infection, ways of seeking medication in case one is positive, and how to face and eradicate the stigma towards HIV positive individuals (Petersdorf, Robert G p 95). Being able to understand the various ways in which they can be able to protect themselves from the transmission of the virus will help in the reduction in the number of people that are infected. Reducing infection cases is the major step towards eradicating HIV infection in the military and country. (Petersdorf, Robert G p 95)
Although HIV testing is a personal decision, there is the need to ensure that those who are highly exposed to the risk of contracting the virus receive the facilities to know their virus more often to control the transmission and ensure healthy living of those affected with the virus. (William N et al. p250)The gay and bisexual military men are exposed to the virus, but since it is not a requirement for them to be tested, they do not take the tests to ensure they are healthy.
Voluntary testing of HIV is highly advised since it has benefits such learning how to prevent it, receiving counselling, care and support. With voluntary testing, medical treatment and health will experience improvement and there will be more informed decision-making when dealing with HIV patients. Therefore the military individuals need to voluntarily take the test. Also, when they voluntarily take the test, they will be able to receive comprehensive care that they deserve. However, it is a requirement for the service members to carry out the test frequently to identify their abilities and noting whether they are still fit to serve considering the rigorous task that the military personnel go through in line of duty.
The testing should be made more frequent to encourage all those at high risk of contraction in the military to take the tests. Testing for HIV should be made a priority in the military to ensure the spread is contained. Since the frequent testing facilities are not available, it discourages the testing for the virus. For those that test positive, the medication should start immediately, and healthy living should be encouraged. (William N et al. p250)
In conclusion, there should be a change in the HIV testing periods provided for in the army. There are many risks that those in the army are exposed to, especially gay and bisexual military men. Frequent testing periods such as twice a year will help control the spread of HIV and encourage those at high risk of contraction to use adequate prevention to protect themselves from acquiring the virus. When the testing of HIV is made a priority in the military, it will encourage the gay and the bisexual to get tested so that they can live healthy lives as well as avoid further transmission to their partners. Knowing the HIV status will also help in dealing with the discrimination and stigma that faces the sick and the gay and bisexual in the army. Healthy living will help to improve the service that these military men provide the country with.