Testing and Treatment
Protect yourself and your child
- English
- العربية
Why is it important to get tested soon enough in case of being at risk of HIV/infection?
Most of the people who carry the virus do not have symptoms in the early stages of infection, so they do not know they are infected until the virus spreads in their bodies and reaches the stage of AIDS, where the virus destroys the immune system and its ability to fight diseases. Therefore, it is very important to get tested early enough to start treatment and avoid reaching this late stage quickly.
I suspect I’m HIV-positive but I am concerned about the testing costs and the stigma in case of diagnosis, what should I do?
Testing and counselling are available for free in governmental counseling centers located in different governorates of Egypt. You can find out the nearest lab by calling 08007008000 or 33152801. Calls on these numbers are treated with complete confidentiality without showing the caller’s ID. At the centers, the patient is treated with professionalism and respect for his/her privacy and no personal data are requested. The test is also available in private labs for a fee.
Is there a cure for AIDS or a vaccine against HIV?
No, but there are drugs (called antiretrovirals) that limit the virus spread and improve the condition of the patient. These drugs have to be taken for life with regularity of treatment so that the patient can live with HIV and lead a normal life. The Egyptian Ministry of Health provides these drugs free of charge.
What are the benefits of treatment regularity?
What are the risks of irregularity of treatment?
If you doubt you’re at risk of HIV infection, this is a contact list for free counseling and testing.
