Pilots in Botswana have reacted angrily to new regulations that mean they could face the sack if they have HIV.
Pilots in Botswana have reacted angrily to new regulations that mean they could face the sack if they have HIV.
The country's Civil Aviation Department says pilots and air traffic controllers must be tested regularly for HIV, diabetes and high blood pressure.
The country's Civil Aviation Department says pilots and air traffic controllers must be tested regularly for HIV, diabetes and high blood pressure.
If found to be HIV-positive and to have developed another complaint, their licence will be withdrawn.
If found to be HIV-positive and to have developed another complaint, their licence will be withdrawn.
The authorities say the move is meant to guarantee passenger safety, but rights groups say it is discriminatory.
The authorities say the move is meant to guarantee passenger safety, but rights groups say it is discriminatory.
Botswana has one of the world's highest rates of HIV infection, but also has one of Africa's most advanced Aids treatment programmes and readily available anti-retroviral drugs.
Botswana has one of the world's highest rates of HIV infection, but also has one of Africa's most advanced Aids treatment programmes and readily available anti-retroviral drugs.
According to the government's own HIV/Aids policy, an employee should not lose their job because they have HIV.
According to the government's own HIV/Aids policy, an employee should not lose their job because they have HIV.
'Uneasiness'
'Uneasiness'
The new regulations require that a young pilot, for example, is tested at least once a year - and more often the older he or she gets.
The new regulations require that a young pilot, for example, is tested at least once a year - and more often the older he or she gets.
If an employee is found to have conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, they will not be able to practise.
If an employee is found to have conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, they will not be able to practise.
"There's suddenly a growing feeling of uneasiness amongst controllers and pilots," said Moetapele Motale of the Botswana Air Traffic Controllers Association.
"There's suddenly a growing feeling of uneasiness amongst controllers and pilots," said Moetapele Motale of the Botswana Air Traffic Controllers Association.
The director of the country's Civil Aviation Department says the move is not intended to be unfair and the rules are unavoidable.
The director of the country's Civil Aviation Department says the move is not intended to be unfair and the rules are unavoidable.
"All we're saying is that there are certain medical conditions that if people are diagnosed to have, then it may impair their judgement in the respective professions that they are rendering," said Olefile Moakofi.
"All we're saying is that there are certain medical conditions that if people are diagnosed to have, then it may impair their judgement in the respective professions that they are rendering," said Olefile Moakofi.
Do you think your employer has a right to know your HIV status? Or should employers have access to this information if it is a matter of public safety? Let us know your views using the form below.
Do you think your employer has a right to know your HIV status? Or should employers have access to this information if it is a matter of public safety? Let us know your views using the form below.
A selection of your comments will be broadcast on the BBC's Focus on Africa programme on Saturday 18 August at 1700 GMT.
A selection of your comments will be broadcast on the BBC's Focus on Africa programme on Saturday 18 August at 1700 GMT.
These views represent the balance of opinion we have received so far:
My employer don't have the right to know neither my status nor any information regarding my status if found to be HIV positive because is confidential and of my own safety. Nobody wants to be discriminated or isolated. Olymatou Cox-Bah, Banjul, The Gambia
I do not think that one's employer has any right to know unless the affected person trusts their employer. In sub Sahara, HIV still carries the stigma to the extent that there might be discrimination and marginalisation. People still associate HIV as impending demise, and therefore wasteful to bestow any benefits and resources on the sufferers. With regards to public safety, such disclosure should be encouraged through continuous monitoring of the condition by the authorities, to enable the affected to remain professionally active till such time that they become a risk. We know that dementia and other conditions may put others at risk., Windhoek, Namibia
The employer has no right what so ever to see the HIV status of his employee. If he see them he will be violating the employee's right to privacy. So i think this sucks and whoever came up with this rule is nothing else but a dictator. This is where the UN should intervene. I think our rights as human beings are violated. So i totally say this is abuse of ones privacy tshepang maxala, gaborone- Botswana
I THINK OUR EMPLOYERS SHOULD KNOW OUR HIV STATUS IF IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY. HIV STATUS IS ONLY A PROBLEM IF ONE IS POSITIVE OTHERWISE IT IS SOMETHING TO BOAST OF IF ONE IS NEGATIVE.IF AN EMPLOYEE IS NOT FEELING WELL OR SUBJECT TO FREQUENT CHANGES IN THEIR HEALTH STATUS I DONT THINK IT IS WISE TO LET THAT EMPLOYEE FLY AN AEROPLANE.BENJAMIN KESENYANG, GABORONE, BOTSWANA
An employer has no right or reason to know about a person's medical condition. I have often omitted a difficult medical condition when asked on forms, as it is well known i would otherwise not have been employed due to risk, even though there is no risk to others as such, only self, and in my case not HIV, but the HIV situation has some similarities.With one employer in recent years, i told the truth, and i now believe that was a mistake. I think it added to my failure to jump over a probationary hurdle. The context for the employer for a long term position spelt 'risk'. Who really wants to admit such things, when they are impossible to prove?There are so many sharks scrutinising in HR these days and undertaking 'risk management' it really can be a cruel world for some. I think that people with HIV, unless they have direct daily contact with blood samples whatever for other people, should not have to declare their status.Cate cate, Bath (urst)
Of course the employer should know the individuals HIV status, However ongoing employment should be protected by law and as long as an individual is certified as "Medically fit" to continue their profession, the law should protect that employment. This is the decision of a Doctor, not an employerHarry Hongjindapong, Bangkok, Thailand
Indeed, if it comes to public safety employers should know if this employee has HIV/Aids, because public safety is very important.john Afriyie, Holland
There is no scientific rationale to declare anybody unfit for a job on the basis of a positive HIV test result.Research has shown that HIV can indeed affect the brain and lead to deficiencies mostly in brain regions controlling movement, memory and planning. However, this happens not to everybody, at later stages of the disease and can be diagnosed rather easily.Best regards,David Haerry, European AIDS Treatment Group, Brussels/Belgium Haerry David, Bern, Switzerland
No because there is no relationship between your HIV Status and your employer. Foremost is the contract between you and the company you are working for. In broadest sense, once your HIV status is known publicly, you be discriminated against. Your HIV status is very confidential.nyieth arou nyieth, Brisbane, Australia
I don't think it should be compulsory. It should be the decision of the individual whether his employer should know his status.Mavis Beckley, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Yes, as long as that would not in any way be used to deny anyone of his or her rights-discrimination that is. As much as it is not wrong or secretive to know that someone is suffering from deadly diseases such as cancer and high blood pressure why should it matter about HIV status. The problem with the HIV and which many governments are oblivious of is the stigma they are creating about it-let it be what it is like any other diagnosis-this disease is diagnosed just the same way cancer is so where does the question of employer knowing my status arise from- why not cancer, TB, high blood pressure? Whether or not a matter of public policy i think employers/ public have to know how well one is, so that a motivational environment for its employees.Titus M Lengwadibe, Gaborone, Botswana
Only if my state of health were to impair my ability to do carry out any part of my job, would they have a right to know what kind of condition was causing the problem.Opportunistic infections due to a weakened immune system can be wide ranging and may have little or no affect on someone's ability to fly a plane so it would be unfair to treat everyone the same.In this country, if an employer is concerned about someone's state of health and how it may affect their ability to carry out their work, then they may be assessed by an independent occupational health officer. This is a fairer way of ensuring that the employer is aware of any specific health issues affecting someone's ability to carry out their work but could protect someone from having to disclose their HIV status. It has the added benefit of enabling an employee to assess their own ability to continue in a particular role or to do something different. This is an empowering approach and could be beneficial where a person's current state of health may present a potential risk to public safety.Colin Bowen, Walthamstow, London
When a person is working especially in such a sensitive working environment like airplanes it is of paramount importance that the safety of the public is taken into the highest consideration. This means that having AIDS could be an impediment. In some fields like for example hotel industry the fact that that you have HIV is not so grave because risk is spread out in a way. We have to take to consideration that some people with terminal illnesses are suicidal. It's not a crime to have HIV but it's a crime to put the lives of hundreds in danger which could very easily be avoided. kay, Zimbabwe
Who ever came up with that proposal is an enemy of an anti-Aids fight in Africa. A continued stigmatization of Aids patients has deterred many Africans from taking a voluntary HIV/AIDS test fearing a reprisal. What is wrong with an Aids patient flying a plane if the disease is not in advanced stage? I believe Government is shooting its self in the foot by introducing this policy before scrapping its HIV policy of ''employees should not lose their jobs because they have HIV'' I think the Government is not only being unfair but also mistreating its workers, bringing endless traumas to its people.KASIRIIVU JAMES, KASESE UGANDA
This is unacceptable especially in Africa where stigmatization is still and would be used against you even in undeserving cases that have nothing to do with safety concerns.Allan Odhiambo, Nairobi
