Should students' HIV status be disclosed?

Nov 20, 2018

The teacher said, “Some of you are being careless and you will end up being infected with HIV, which is automatic death for you. If you have HIV, chances are, you will not live long. You will die and lose your planned future.”

JOYCE Apio (name changed) found out that she was HIV positive at age 11, while she was in Primary Six. A year later, while in Primary Seven, after she had told a few of her friends about her HIV status, a shock of her life hit her, during one of the classroom sessions.

Their teacher just told them that HIV positive people cannot live long a long life; which is obviously not true. The teacher said, "Some of you are being careless and you will end up being infected with HIV, which is automatic death for you. If you have HIV, chances are, you will not live long. You will die and lose your planned future." 

It could be that the message was well intended, but badly packaged and unrealistic.  Apio remembers trying to remain composed, but she couldn't. Much as she had earlier on been counseled, she felt stigmatised by her teachers' remarks. Like her, so many parents are wondering whether they should disclose their children's HIV status to schools. What should be done? Read our story tomorrow, in New Vision or subscribe for the Epaper 

 
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