Uganda. – (News Of The South)-Teachers at Nalufenye Primary School in Pallisa District are alleged to have locked out a student from school for being HIV positive and the student has appealed for well-wishers to come to his rescue.
The student, a 10-year-old boy is entitled to education, medication and shelter, among others from government and his caregivers at home.
Both parents of the young boy who can not be named for confidentiality purposes are said to have died from HIV in 2003 and from then teachers have denied him education due to his poor health condition claiming he would infect other pupils.
“I was supposed to start Primary One this year… I was instead told that I would infect other pupils if I was allowed in the school. I’m ready to go school to if someone supports me,” he said.
Mr Isa Salumanya, his guardian confirmed the boy’s allegations and he appears to support the mis informed information that if the boy was allowed in school, he would infect other pupils with the HIV virus.
A reliable source at this school who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press confirmed that the child was denied access to lessons because he had sores all over his body and needed urgent treatment.
But the school’s head teacher, Ms Sikola Emanut, denied knowledge of the incidence.
“As an administrator, I do not believe in the lies of the press that this child was denied access to education because of his HIV status. If he is on medication and able to attend lessons, he is free to come and start studying,” she said.
It is important to note that HIV is a blood-borne virus spread by sharing needles , via mother to child: It is possible for an HIV-infected mother to pass the virus directly before or during birth, or through breast milk.
Mothers who are HIV positive can protect their babies by not breast feeding their babies, that way the baby does not become infected by the virus.
Having unprotected sex is also another way HIV is spread.
More work needs to be done in terms of educating people of how HIV is spread so that the 10 year old boys situation can be avoided because his attending school cannot spread the virus.
HIV awareness has been and remains to be a challenge for Health Care professionals whose task is to educate people on HIV and AIDS.
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