Activists want HIV data collection stopped

A civil society group in Kenya has moved to court to stop a presidential directive on data collection of HIV positive children, students and their guardians in every county.

Kenya Legal and |ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS claims that the directive issued in February by President Uhuru Kenyatta was contrary to the constitution and the HIV Prevention and Control Act.

The organization further claims that the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the National Aids Control Council has already started collection of data of children living with HIV.

Justice Mumbi Ngugi has certified the matter as urgent and she has directed that court papers be served to all parties in the case before hearing today, Wednesday.

By Bernice Sila