Empowering Sexual Health Through Accessible Self-Testing

In an era where sexual health is paramount yet often overlooked, FAMKA stands out for their innovation. Founded in 2014, FAMKA began as a side project with a mission to fill a critical gap in the market for sexual health and testing.

Today, it stands at the forefront of providing affordable and accessible self-testing kits for a range of STIs. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the journey of FAMKA, its extensive product offerings, and the crucial role self-testing plays in promoting safe sexual practices and breaking the stigmas associated with STIs.

Join us as we explore how FAMKA is making a significant impact on sexual health and empowering individuals to take control of their well-being.

 

Tell us a bit about FAMKA and the inspiration behind starting this business.

Famka was started in 2014 and it was more of a side project. We noticed a gap in the market for sexual health and testing. We started with a small number of tests, because the idea of course was very niche. We also only stocked HIV test kits, but over time we expanded our test kit range, focusing on what people requested the most. We have always believed that people should have access to affordable ways of testing for STI’s.

Can you tell us more about your self-testing products?

We offer an extensive range of STI tests kits. We’re one of the few online stores that provide rapid tests for the following STI’s: HIV, Herpes-2, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Trichomoniasis. These are the most common STI’s that people experience, and they are the STI’s that have been on the rise. The test kits are simple to use, and you get your results within 15 minutes.

Why is it important to self-test?

STI’s are on the rise, which is concerning because it means that people are not having safe sex. In our society where hook-up culture is a major part of dating and seeing people, you want to make sure that you’re not going home with something you didn’t want. You also want to make sure that you are not passing anything along to someone either. It’s also important for your personal health. The long-term effects of STI’s can cause complications, if left untreated and so if there is a way for you to test for a potential STI, that is safe, easy and cost effective, we’d always recommend self-testing.

How do you ensure the accuracy and reliability of your self-testing products?

Our tests are incredibly reliable for what they need to do. All our tests have to be approved by SAPHRA, in order to ensure that they meet the high accuracy rating that is set by SAPHRA. We adhere to a high standard, and we understand the importance of the tests being as accurate as possible. We are talking about people’s lives and mental health here. By making sure that our tests meet the requirements of SAPHRA, we are doing our part in ensuring that the tests are accurate and reliable for people to use and trust.

What kind of support does FAMKA provide to help customers use self-testing products?

At FAMKA we do our best to provide resources, websites and contact numbers do different sexual health organisations. We understand that taking an STI test can be scary and potentially life changing and so we want to make sure that people know what the next steps are without worrying.
We always recommend that people see their doctor after they have taken the test, as they may need that professional medical advice. We are here to help guide them to understanding what could be happening with their bodies, in terms of symptoms and should they have a positive test, that they can treat the STI with the guidance of their doctor.

We also make sure that the instructions that come with the test kits are clear and easy to understand, because many times people are nervous and anxious about taking the test, and so we try to make the process easy to understand and interpret.

Are there any common misconceptions about self-testing that you’d like to address?

Many people have concerns about Rapid Tests and if it’s the right way to test for STI’s, which fair, it is a serious situation to be in. The best way to help people understand and potentially trust the kind of tests that we sell, is to think of a pregnancy test. It is the first test a woman will take when she suspects that she’s pregnant or just take one as a precautionary measure. The same thing goes for drug panel tests, glucose tests, alcohol tests. These are all tests to understand and determine a potential issue in the moment.

Now that’s exactly what our tests do. They help you screen for potential STI’s, in the moment where you have some concerns and you’re not quite convinced that there is anything to worry about, but you want to make sure, and you want to address what you are experiencing.

All STI’s except for two are curable. And the non-curable ones are manageable through medications. There have been many medical improvements around the treatment for HIV and Herpes. You can live a perfectly normal and responsible life even with these STI’s.

The other STI’s can be treated and cleared with medication prescribed by your doctor and once you have been cleared you are able to continue living responsibly. The stigma around STI’s and that they are life altering. Yes, it’s fair to say that no one wants to be diagnosed with an STI but there is something you can do about it. It feels scary because the next steps to take feel daunting or unknown. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It happens. Life happens. The difference is that we do something about it. It won’t be something that will go away on its own but use the moment to take control, test for it and get the right treatment for it. Then moving forward make sure that you are responsible with your sexual health.

People don’t want to be associated or linked to a STI. People are still very shy and reserved when it comes to talking about STI’s, but the truth of the matter is, is that if you are sexually active, you need to consider STI’s, especially if you have multiple partners. The conversations needs to happen and the approach to addressing STI and self-testing needs to be embraced as a normal sexual health practice.

What challenges have you faced in developing and promoting self-testing products?

The development of the test kits is not really an issue. It’s more just the demand and availability of the tests. The sector has many ebbs and flows. Some months it’s really busy and then you get other months that are quiet. There also seems to be a season for STI’s, now I don’t mean that a particular time is associated with an STI, but rather there are points throughout the year when we see a greater demand for particular STI test kits.

We do notice that some STI test kits sell faster than others. The main test kits that are ordered are what one would get in our combo kit (HIV, Herpes-2, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis). We did launch a test for HPV, which tested for strains 16 and 18 specifically, earlier this year and that seemed to be in demand but, the risk that unless people are actively seeking out the test, it’s difficult to keep larger quantities of the test kits in stock.

We work on monitoring the demands carefully to try and ensure that we have the test kits that people need available, but ultimately, we would love to get to a point where we could expand our offerings and that people see FAMKA as a beacon of hope and encouragement to take their sexual health into their own hands.

If there’s anything else you would like to add, please do.

Our biggest concern though is the continued practice of not using protection with a sexual partner. Many of the STI strains are becoming anti-biotic resistant, which is concerning. South Africa has one of the highest STI infection rates in the world and it continues to grow, (Per 100,000 people there are 37,273 living with an STI, in South Africa. 8,2 million South Africans are living with HIV). Many people do not get tested, have multiple sexual partners and have unprotected sex and ignore the symptoms that they are experiencing to the point where other health complications begin to occur.

The STI is the Sexually Transmitted Infection, the initial infection you get from unprotected sex. If the STI is left untreated it could develop into an STD, which is a Sexually Transmitted Disease and that causes other serious health complications, and it can be harder to treat.

For Example:
HIV, AIDS
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, PIDS
HPV, Cancer (In some cases)
Window and Incubation period

Incubation Period is the time needed for the body to respond and fight the infection, it prepares for an anti-body attack, and this is when you get your symptoms. It is the Time between when you are exposed until your first symptom.

Window Period is when you are exposed to the infection and the correct time when the test can detect organisms and anti-bodies. If you don’t take time to consider the infection window you could end up with a false negative. This is why it is very important to note when and who you last had sex with.

Symptoms
Men and women will experience a variety of symptoms when they have an STI. But there are instances when the symptoms present differently or not at all. In many cases men can be silent carriers of STI’s such as HPV or STD’s like PIDS. Which is why it is so important to test regularly and because each person reacts differently to the STI’s. You won’t KNOW that you have an STI unless you test for it. This is something that people confidently state, that they will know if they were infected, but the truth and reality is that you won’t. Which is why access to STI Rapid Test Kits are so important and valuable. We are providing an opportunity for people to test affordably and accurately and giving them the information they need to look after their health.


FAMKA’s commitment to accessible and affordable self-testing for STIs is a vital step forward in sexual health. By empowering individuals to take control of their well-being, FAMKA not only helps reduce the spread of infections but also challenges the stigmas that often prevent open discussions about sexual health. Their reliable and user-friendly testing kits provide a crucial resource in a world where sexual health awareness is more important than ever. As FAMKA continues to grow and innovate, they remain a beacon of hope and a champion for a healthier, more informed society.

For more information, head on over to www.famka.co.za