Lesotho plans to
test every citizen for HIV

Lesotho, a southern African nation hit hard by AIDS, plans to implement a policy requiring all of its citizens to be tested for HIV antibodies in an effort to identify those who are infected and slow the spread of the disease, The Boston Globe reports. Health minister Motloheloa Phooko told reporters at a press conference that he plans to implement the universal HIV testing program on World AIDS Day, December 1, and that government workers will go "door to door" to test everyone for HIV. The World Health Organization had urged Phooko to adopt the policy. Currently only about 1% of the nation's population of 2.1 million has been screened for HIV infection, mostly because of the stigma associated with being HIV-positive, health officials say. About one third of Lesotho's population is believed to be HIV-positive. (Advocate.com)