Parents of children in a Port Elizabeth Primary School are furious; they allege an NGO tested their children for HIV without their consent.
This was done in a tent in front of the school premises. It’s believed their status was revealed in front of other pupils.
A community up in arms saying their children’s rights have been violated.
In addition they say no counselling was provided before and after testing.
Mother of a learner says:”I asked my child what happened and he told me that they took them to the tent, gave him a piece of paper and told him to sign. After having signed the paper they pricked him on the finger, two lines appeared on the apparatus and he said he did not know what to do.”
“Another child was also present while the testing was done and said its two lines so you are HIV positive.”
One of the Grade 7 pupils alleges that a social worker with the NGO told the class they did not need consent forms from their parents.
The NGO in question, Khethimpilo, had been operating in the Western Cape for 13 years and in Port Elizabeth for one year.
It says the National Department of Education gave them the go ahead.
Khethimpilo co-ordinator Busisiwe Madikizela says:”There are national guidelines that guide us and those are within the department of health too, we always make sure that the care worker does not reveal the status of the child or an adult that we are testing because of those guidelines.”
“Khetimpilo always gives consent forms to the parents and the school so that the parents can give consent for children to test.”
The provincial Department of Education condemned the screenings.
Provincial Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima says: “We are aware that the rights of the learners were infringed and that the whole lot of other things for instance entering the school premises, how did they get permission?”
The Provincial Education Department has launched an investigation.
Officials from the National Department are expected to attend a meeting with the NGO in Port Elizabeth on Monday to investigate the allegations.
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