Participants take part in the Right to Privacy & Confidentiality debate Picture By KELIN/Ted Wandera
“Discussions on the findings of the study conducted on Persons Living with HIV and Health Care Workers during the forum on 21 and 22 July, 2014 were an eye opener for us. We discovered that as PLHIV, we had very little or no knowledge on our rights to privacy and confidentiality. Much as we understood our basic rights this specific right was in constant violation in all surrounding areas for example in our families, when accessing health services, in our work places and in the society at large.
The group discussions were able to tease out other underlying factors that contribute to PLHIV‘s vulnerability to violations and the role of PLHIV in promoting the right to privacy and confidentiality in health services. After the discussions we made recommendations to promote those rights which include sensitization of the community on HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Act and dialogue forums between clients and service providers.
The Pillar of the workshop were discussions around understanding the difference between privacy and confidentiality; understanding the link between HIV and human rights as well as constitutional, legal and policy framework relating to the right to privacy and confidentiality of PLHIV were the pillar of the workshop
Workshop was informative and educative and as empowered persons living with HIV we are now armed with proper information on how to carry out this right and how to document and present to the duty bearers on the same.”
News item by Everlyn Simaloi (Participant)
