Chloe Low
The agenda for the day was grim: Get myself checked for the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The place I had to get that done was not a pretty sight either. The clinic was near Desker Road, known for its sleaze. Cigarette butts littered the pathway leading to the clinic entrance.
The stigma attached to visiting such a clinic comes as no surprise, seeing that the services of the place is specifically tailored for sexual health issues. The DSC Clinic is a public clinic operated by the Department of STI Control (DSC) for the diagnosis, treatment and control of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Singapore.
Taking my first strides into the clinic and heading for the registration desk, I realised immediately that I was staggeringly outnumbered by males. The interior, though, was clean and stark, a welcome relief from the streets outside.
I was informed that the average waiting time was 2 hours to see any one of the doctors on duty. Settling into one of the seats, I prepared myself for a long wait.
The environment was unnerving, being surrounded by a mix of extremely bored-looking middle-aged men, as well as a few well-dressed young ones who tried to stay inconspicuous behind their open copies of Men’s Health.
I couldn’t help but find myself wondering what exactly each one of them was there for. Graphic health information posters surround the waiting area, making sure people knew what genital warts looked like.
This certainly didn’t help in easing the anxiety of a first-timer like myself.
The increase in undetected cases of HIV in recent years has led to hospitals running routine screening tests for all admitted patients. Besides the DSC Clinic, HIV testing can also be done at polyclinics and selected private clinics (see below).
Anonymous testing is an option available and is carried out by local charity Action for AIDS (AfA) every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at the DSC Clinic, after the clinic’s normal operating hours.
Along with the traditional HIV antibody blood test, which takes 5 days to generate accurate results, there’s now the option of a rapid HIV test where the wait for results is much shorter 45 minutes.
It’s done without drawing any blood. Instead a sampling of oral fluid from the mouth is used.
The doctor explained the various tests thoroughly, before grilling me gently for details of my sexual lifestyle and history. Her sensitivity in handling the information shone through and dispelled any awkwardness between us.
She also informed me that should the test prove positive, there are certain actions that would have to be taken.
For example, HIV-positive people are required by law to disclose their HIV status to several parties. These include sexual partners before any intercourse takes place, spouses, as well as medical and dental personnel who may perform invasive procedures on them. Failure to do this can expose one to face up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Early detection, however, results in timely treatment and a longer, improved quality of life. It also helps curb the spread of HIV.
Before sending me off to get my cheek cells swabbed, she pushed a box full of condoms in my direction and invited me to take a few.
“They’re free,” she smiled.
After a gruelling 45-minute wait, I was given the all-clear. I paid $35 and said a quick thank-you. I was out in an instant. The shockingly graphic posters depicting symptoms of STIs became a blur, thankfully.
On the brighter side of things, the clinic’s atmosphere could put off people coming here so much that it ironically becomes a good reason to stay infection-free and HIV-safe.
Visit the DSC Clinic’s website at www.dsc- sexualhealth.com.sg
Facts about HIV
Text by Lau Liang Tong
•AIDS statistics for the first 10 months of 2008 recorded an all-time high of 382 new cases.
•Locally, close to 4,000 have been affected by HIV since 1985.
•HIV patients need to take a combination of at least three medicines, which normally cost over $1,000 per month.
•MOH has decided to subsidise HIV medication, but the amount subsidised is unknown.
Clinic locations with anonymous HIV testing
Text by Lau Liang Tong
•Action for AIDS Anonymous Department. of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic, 31 Kelantan Lane, #01-16, Tel: 624-0212
•Anteh Dispensary, 369 Geyland Road, Tel: 6744-1809
•Cambridge Clinic, Blk 333, Kreta Ayer Road, #03-27, Tel: 6327-1253
10 Signs of being HIV-positive
Text by Chloe Low
1. Between a few days to months after being exposed to HIV, 50 out of 90 percent of infected patients develop flu-like symptoms that last about 2 weeks.
2. Victims of HIV often break out with fever between 100.4ºF (38ºC) to 104ºF (40ºC), and experience muscle and joint pain.
3. Usually during the second week of the illness, lymph nodes under the arms and in the back will swell, but these are painless.Although the lymph node swelling will subside, little to moderate swelling will still remain.
4. Patients may also develop a mild enlargement of their spleen (known as splenomegaly).
5. Lingering fatigue, listlessness or depression is common in HIV victims.
6. Acute HIV infection presents itself as open sores or ulcers that involve mucous membranes and skin in certain areas of the body. These shallow and sharp edged sores are commonly found on the mouth, esophagus, anus or penis (if male).
7. Victims are subject to developing a rash or reddish inflammation of the skin that affects the face, neck, upper chest and other sensitive areas of the body.
8. HIV infected people most often suffer from nausea and vomiting diarrhea and the lack of appetite. These can be caused by abnormalities of the digestive system such as the inflammation of the liver or pancreas caused by the disease.
9. Inflammation of the lungs resulting in a dry cough is also common among victims.
10. Headaches are common in HIV victims. This can be due to severe neurological problems and may affect the victim’s eye movement.