Two former Zambian Air Force officers are suing the country’s military, claiming to have been tested for HIV without their knowledge. Military HIV testing is voluntary in Zambia. The military argues they discharged the two officers for other medical conditions (cancer and TB).
Both were put through medical tests in 2001 that they believed were routine check-ups, after which they were put on medication.
Much later, both men volunteered to be tested for HIV and claim it was only then that they were told that the drugs they had been taking were anti-retrovirals.
The case is bringing the debate over mandatory HIV screening in Zambia back into the public debate. Opponents claim mandatory screening is a violation of human rights. Proponents argue it is a public health necessity.
Christopher Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
Want more? Subscribe to Conflict Health through RSS or email.
{ 2 comments }
Military testing of personnel for HIV and other blood-borne pathogens should be mandatory. It should also be known to the troops as a routine procedure to ensure their safety in a disaster “walking bloodbank” scenario. There is no ethical reason antiretrovirals can be given w/o the patient’s knowledge.
Agreed wholeheartedly.
Zambia has treated military HIV rates as classified information in the past, but the likely truth is they probably have no idea themselves. Either does many states. In 2004, 33% of Zimbabwean military officers sent to China advanced training had to be sent home for being HIV positive.
Comments on this entry are closed.