Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - Sunday 28 July, 2002
Bobby Jordan
The president of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, Ephraim Mafalo, this week said compulsory tests would stigmatise HIV-positive nurses and harm their chances of working abroad. "We will not be compelled to take the test. It would be very unfortunate if our members in Britain . . . are forced to submit to HIV tests," Mafalo said.
His comments followed media speculation in Britain this week that 700 infected nurses may have come from Africa to Britain last year. Britain's Department of Health intended instituting HIV screening tests for new nursing recruits, the reports said.
South Africa is the second biggest provider of foreign nurses to Britain after the Philippines. A total of 2 114 South African nurses were recruited in 2001-02, of whom 425 could have HIV, based on a 20% prevalence rate. In contrast, the Aids rate in the Philippines is less than 0.1%, according UN figures . Britain recruited 473 Zimbabwean nurses in 2001-02, of whom 34% could be infected.
Mandatory HIV tests would be an insult to African nurses working abroad, Mafalo said.
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