Monday, October 6, 2003
Leaders should take Aids tests, but must they reveal status ?
But while I agree that they need to provide guidance to citizens, I'm worried about the ethics of public disclosure of Aids status.
I'm currently involved with an HIV education team on my university campus, and we have found the major problem facing effective diagnosis and treatment is lack of testing.
If leaders were to spearhead a drive to get local people tested, if testing facilities were more widely available, if testing methods were less arduous (the new oral tests, for example, seem to be more efficacious), then more people would know their status.
Although Ms Ombara quite rightly points out that her emphasis is on leaders being tested, thus "leading by example", the calls she made for public disclosure of Aids status remains troubling.
If, in fact, leaders should disclose their Aids status, then perhaps in a follow-up article, Ms Ombara can speculate on how such action would help the masses.
More particularly, what legal and social steps should leaders take � enacting protective legislation, enforcing such legislation, actively pursuing cases of discrimination and abuse based on Aids status?
Going for tests as an example to other citizens is certainly a legitimate first step, though, it should be noted, that even in the West, leaders have resisted getting tested or, at least, disclosing that they have been tested, as the move bears a certain stigma:
'There must be a reason,' people say, 'something undisclosed, and probably perverse that dictates such testing.'
Either the leaders are secretly homosexual as many people still believe Aids is a homosexual disease, or one has been unfaithful to one's spouse or partner.
All of which is to say, I really liked the article and would like to see several follow-ups.
Certainly, we need to keep Aids activism a constant theme in the media.
KEGURO MACHARIA,
Nairobi.
I really liked Ms Ombara's article. I think the kind of leadership that would advance the fight against HIV/Aids is missing.
It should be clear by now that until we vigorously campaign against shame, discrimination and stigma, we are still in denial.
Thank you very much Omwa for sharing your thoughts.
MWAGANU WA KAGGIA,
Thika.
Ms Ombara's article was inspiring indeed. Kudos for writing it with such tenacity and force. It would be great to see if the leaders take heed.
RICHARD G.WAMAI,
Helsinki.
In the United States; military (I am one); we've a forces screening every other year and before going on overseas deployment. Do they do that back home in Kenya?
Your commentary was great. Leaders should lead by example. Period!
G. RONO,
USA.
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