by Allen Yu
Since LoveYourself Platinum first launched in
January 2013, it's been nothing but a runaway success. Known for its
hyper-discreet, by-appointment testing process and premium service quality,
Platinum — already offered twice a month — is routinely booked solid.
For many of its clients, the discreetness makes
it their ideal choice. “My past testing
experiences were okay — straight to the point, very professional,” recalls
Mike, who got tested with Platinum last October. "But given the stigma on
HIV, I still prefer privacy and discreetness — and LoveYourself Platinum
offered just that.”
Other clients go even further: for them,
discreetness is non-negotiable. “The stigma is a hindrance,” explains JR,
a designer who tested with Platinum last April. “The privacy aspect was
paramount.”
Joey, a system administrator who also got tested
with Platinum this October, appreciates that he didn’t need to worry about how
to approach clinic or hospital staff. “The thought of directly approaching people from the clinic or hospital
to get tested sounds really uncomfortable to me,” he confides. “I was worried
of the stigma, because most people do not have a broader sense of understanding
of this kind of thing.”
Apart from discreetness, many clients also
appreciate that Platinum isn’t just a run-of-the-mill testing service. Care has
been taken to make every aspect of the experience as comfortable as possible.
“The environment and the people involved are
very much accommodating,” shares Waltz, who works in a BPO company. “You won’t
feel like you are going to a test.”
Accommodating, but efficient. “What I liked most
in the experience is the swift outcome of the results,” says a 35-year old
professional who tested with Platinum last September, and has chosen to remain
anonymous. “Also, the place where you hold it is very private yet easy to go
to.”
Jerry, another client who tested last June and
runs his family’s business, agrees. “I personally liked having a specified time
to be tested, so there was no waiting. The staff was professional and extremely
courteous. The location was also convenient. I would recommend Platinum
to anyone who prefers privacy over the dislikes of the hospital
atmosphere, with long lines and unsympathetic hospital workers.”
Given some of the horror stories that have gone
around about these ‘dislikes’, Jerry’s comment highlights one of the great
advantages of the LoveYourself Platinum testing experience: the counselors.
Rigorously trained on HIV issues and health-plan building, they are the perfect
resource people for curious clients.
“You get the extra knowledge on things that you
thought you already knew,” says Waltz.
Max, a writer who tested with Platinum last
October, also notes the “positive, information-driven approach” of the
counselors, as well as their “consistent advocacy for everyday habits that
lead a person to take better care of themselves sexually, and as a whole.”
Mike, on the other hand, appreciated the
counselors’ empathy as much as their know-how. “Though we were strangers to
each other, I felt genuine and sincere warmth. And that in itself spelled all
the difference for me.”
The existence of Platinum serves as much-needed
reassurance at a time when the attention around HIV is growing increasingly
frenetic. The past year has seen a month-on-month increase in the overall
number of MSM who have gotten tested for HIV. This groundswell of initiative
from within the community could be a signal that people are becoming more aware
of the presence of HIV and its implication on their lives.
“I’m in my mid-thirties, and sexually active
with multiple partners,” shares Mike. “I know that I am at high risk.”
For some clients, the urgency of getting tested
radiates from their social circles. “The recent surge of positive individuals
made me want to know my status,” says JR. Here, as before, stigma (and the
accompanying fear) complicates the situation.
“If you think that you really need to get
tested, take the courage to do so,” advises Joey. “In my case, I became so
paranoid and even physically ill because of too much stress. I decided to end
the agony and had the guts to know what I should know about myself.”
JR concurs: “Knowledge is key to keeping oneself
healthy. It’s not the end of the world — prevention and/or maintenance can do
wonders.”
Others, however, feel that getting tested
shouldn’t just be a reaction, but a responsibility.
“It is something I feel we owe ourselves to
know,” Max insists. “This is one body that we have, and it really makes sense
to be responsible for it and to be deliberate about what we do with it.”
“At this time and age when LGBTs are pushing for
not just equality but recognition, it is important that HIV concerns are placed
at the forefront of our agenda,” Mike concludes. “Getting tested is a tangible
way to establish our taking full responsibility for our well-being, and
interest in being part of the solution and the proactive efforts to deter, if
not stop, the unnecessary spread of HIV.”
Do you want to get tested at LoveYourself
Platinum?
Find out more about what happens at LoveYourself
Platinum here.
