New guidelines for HIV/AIDS testing

Comprehensive national guidelines for HIV/AIDS counselling and testing institutions in Kenya have been published for the first time, the 'Daily Nation' reported on Thursday. The guidelines aimed to minimise unprofessional counselling and poor quality testing in health centres offering Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services, and it would be mandatory for VCT centres to adhere to the guidelines, the newspaper said. "These guidelines intend to standardise the control of HIV/AIDS and to assess the effect of what is going on. At the moment, there is a lack of knowledge of what is required and people are doing things haphazardly," the 'Daily Nation' quoted a health expert as saying.

The guidelines included new provisions to safeguard the confidentiality of those taking HIV/AIDS tests, including the establishment of a coding system for patients in VCT centres, the 'Daily Nation' said. Counsellors have argued that this provision is vital, as a lack of confidentiality has led to the refusal by many individuals to take an HIV/AIDS test, and also to an increase in domestic violence.

According to the newspaper, the guidelines also prohibit health centres from insisting that couples take HIV/AIDS tests before marriage, as has been proposed by some religious leaders in Kenya. "Religious leaders and the community will be educated that they should rely on what the couple voluntarily inform them of their status," the 'Nation' quoted the guidelines as saying.