Klerksdorp - North West Premier, Maureen Modiselle, was one of the first people to get tested at the province's launch of the HIV, Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign on Friday.
The provincial launch is in line with the national launch by President Jacob Zuma and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi last Sunday.
Modiselle, who disclosed her status publicly, said: "I have tested for High Blood Pressure, it's normal, I have also tested for diabetes, it's normal and I am tested HIV negative."
Themed, "I am responsible", the campaign forms part of government's new and up-scaled HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment plan which hopes to get 15 million people tested by June 2011.
"As we are going for this massive testing from today we should do so knowing that the responsible disclosure of our status will make us friends to society, we cannot whisper in the dark about our condition lest we betray our nation," Modiselle said.
The province aims to test one million people out of at least 3.2 million residents. The North West has an HIV prevalence rate of 31 percent, with the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality having the highest with 35 percent.
Modiselle said the pandemic has been around for decades adding that it could be managed.
"We are now at the final push of decisively dealing with this challenge. Our message of abstain, be faithful and condomise has now been expanded to include disclose your status. It is now ABCD, Abstain, Be faithful, Condomise and Disclose," she said.
She also encouraged business leaders, churches, youth movements and communities to get tested so that they know their status and get treatment.
