The revelation that there are schools that encourage pupils to go for HIV tests without the assent of their parents or guardians is very disturbing. (See: Follow HIV testing rules for children. Daily Monitor, July 20).
At this stage in the fight against HIV/Aids, given the years that sensitisation programmes, training for providers and other programmes have been executed to inform the general public and; most importantly, train providers, it is unsettling that we can have such a thing happening in Uganda!
Whereas the school administrators may be ignorant of the requirements as set out for testing miners for HIV, it is very worrying that there are providers that are unaware of this requirement! One would expect any medical provider worth their salt to know the requirement for all miners to be accompanied by their parents or guardians and that the providers must obtain the parents’ or guardians’ assent before the test on miners can be done!
Like the author of the article stated, in a situation where a minor tests sero-positive, what does the school and the providers then do? Do they go ahead and inform an ill-prepared, (if it were prepared anyway at all), about his/her sero-status, and what it means? Does the school, at that stage, then call the parents and tell them how their kid is HIV positive? How does the school think such a child will react to this information in such an environment, and without the presence of their parents/guardians?
Lastly, there are so many providers that can provide HIV tests to our children in a more professional manner. Schools that have reason to carry out HIV tests at school should approach known and professional providers and not such unprofessional individuals. This may also point to a possibility of some level of laxity in sensitisation programmes. We cannot afford to relax; more vigorous sensitisation should be undertaken.
Frank Mutagubya,
franmutam@yahoo.com
Assent must be sought before testing children for HIV
July 22, 2015 by haleauganda
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