To test or not to test your house-help for HIV

Nov 29, 2011

When Resty Talemwa got a maid after the birth of her third child, little did she know that the girl, Hanita, was HIV-positive.She did not disclose her status at the time of recruitment. “I only got to know that she was HIV positive after three months.

By Agnes Kyotalengerire
 
When Resty Talemwa got a maid after the birth of her third child, little did she know that the girl, Hanita, was HIV-positive.
She did not disclose her status at the time of recruitment. “I only got to know that she was HIV positive after three months.
 
This was after I suggested taking her to hospital for treatment following a long bout of severe malaria and cough,” recalls Talemwa. 
 
“Although I did not voice my fears, I was dying inside, wondering whether my children were safe. Yet I needed to give my maid a shoulder to lean on. I tried to console her that she was not the first person to have HIV and all she needed was to take care of herself and remain healthy,” Talemwa says. 
 
Pauline Muhereza, another mother of two, says before taking on a maid, she first subjects her to a medical check-up, which includes an HIV test. Muhereza says it was through such mandatory tests that she discovered that one of the girls a friend had brought her from the village was HIV-positive. “I did not even take her home.
 
I rang the friend who had brought her and requested her to pick her from my workplace and send her back home,” she explains. Muhereza stresses she has to test all her house-helps to ensure the safety of her children.
 
Subjecting maids to HIV tests 
Like any other parent, Muhereza’s concerns are justified. However, Cissy Ssuuna, a counsellor at Baylor College of Medicine, observes that the counselling and HIV testing policy emphasises the consent of anybody above 13 years before the person can be subjected to HIV screening. 
 
She adds that of many times people take advantage of the maids and subject them to HIV testing without their consent, which is not only unethical, but also illegal as it infringes on the person’s right to privacy. 
 
“The maid’s views on the screening and her consent have to be sought and she should be counselled before the screening is done. Before the results are disclosed, she should again be counselled, supported and encouraged to get treatment and support in case she is positive. She is not obliged to disclose her status to anybody, not even her employer, unless she chooses to. 
 
 “According to the HIV counselling and testing policy, the results should only be given to the person who has been tested implying the employer will not be allowed to access the results,” Ssuuna explains. 
 
Kellen Baguma, the head of counselling and training at AIDS Information Centre, explains that employers must be aware of the fact that even if a maid is found HIV-negative,  the individual’s status may change during the time you are staying with her. 
 
“The best thing is to encourage the person to know her status and live a healthy, positive life thereafter,” she advises.  
 
To treat or throw her out 
Ssuuna says in the course of her duty as a counsellor, she has received about five cases of HIV-positive adolescents who have been denied house-care jobs because they are HIV-positive. 
 
She adds that through conversations many people have confessed having sent away young girls for being HIV-positive. But, Ssuuna cautions, before subjecting one to an HIV test there should be intentions to  give support, care and love if the person is found positive. 
 
She adds that a maid, like any other member of the family, should be treated with fairness. 
“I have known families staying with HIV-positive maids and they are happy with their work. All one needs is to give them support and talk to them about preventive measures and positive living. That way, they can be committed to their work,” affirms Ssuuna. 
 
Baguma notes that should an employer decide to terminate a house-help under such circumstances, it should not be done abruptly. “She should be given time to cope, especially if she was involved and she took a decision to test.
Remember it is only the two of you who know her status and pushing her away would be devastating,” Baguma counsels. Ssuuna says before terminating her services, the reasons should be made clear. “Employers should not take advantage of house-helps just because they do not sign contracts. Instead, together they should work out a plan to terminate services,” she notes. 
 
What if you decide to keep her? 
Baguma says the parents’ fear of someone infecting their children with HIV is justified, but people need to understand that as much as the house-help is HIV-positive she may not be intending to infect others.  
 
“Though some cases of infected maids molesting boys or using all sorts of means to intentionally infect family members have been reported, it may depends on how the maid is being treated,” Baguma explains. 
 
She adds that the decision to keep an HIV-positive maid is a personal one and the employer may require counselling and support. She has the responsibility to link the maid to a health facility for treatment, information about positive living and to teacher her about the need and responsibility to protect others around her.
 
In addition, the employer should help the maid adhere to treatment, give her money a

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