Free, confidential HIV testing for foreigners who have overstayed their visas will start today in Tokyo, with the cooperation of Japanese and Chinese doctors, hospital officials said Saturday.
The free testing will take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. every Sunday at Nakaiekimae Hospital in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. Up to 800 people can be accommodated, and all testing is strictly confidential.
The free testing came about after Chinese doctors studying at the International Medical Center of Japan voiced the necessity of detecting HIV infection at an early stage.
The program targets foreigners who have overstayed their visas and therefore have difficulty receiving HIV tests in regular medical institutions.
Shinichi Oka, a general manager of the medical center said: "Many (HIV positive) foreigners come to hospital after they have been infected and their condition has deteriorated. If we can determine a patient is HIV positive, we can take appropriate measures."