Compulsory testing is undemocratic

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:24:33 +0000

Dear Editor,

Most bad things are done with very good intentions. Such is the case with the compulsory testing for HIV.

The intention may be sound but the implementation leaves much to be desired because the announcement was couched in terms which imposed rather than appealed to the people who may need the service.

First and foremost it must be clear that of all diseases there is stigma attached to HIV which must be dealt with before any other steps are taken to treat it as any other casual diseases such as malaria.

Nobody minds to be found with malaria because it is a disease that can be treated totally. This is not the case with HIV which remains in the body for the duration of life.

Most importantly the acquisition of the disease remains a matter of controversy and shame therefore any attempt to  bypass this psychological barrier is not only futile but a definite plan to sabotage the very campaign the Government intends to  implement.

The first step should have involved sensitisation by the Ministry of Heal rather  than politicisation making the President  make the declaration which will now be subject to political rather than health debate.

Once a subject is thrust into the political arena it ceases to have the  “specialised” effect  that should effectively exclude it from uninformed political debate. It was on account of the approach that VCT has been accepted by Zambians as a scheme to eradicate the disease.

The same approach should have been tried in the compulsory testing. The first step should have been sensitisation to enable the ordinary people and the medical personnel understand exactly how this system will operate.

Secondly there should have been an assurance about the availability to treat all who are found positive.

Most importantly however should be prior counselling as a prelude to testing to enable individual prepare themselves psychologically.

A positive test is a life changing event for which individuals should be prepared and unless this aspect is taken into account the planned compulsory testing will drive the disease further underground because people will now be scared of approaching medical institutions for fear of the test and the resulting ramifications.

KBG