Source: http://www.annalsofhealthlaw.com/annalsofhealthlaw/vol_22_issue_3?pg=25
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 20:27:56+00:00

Document:
The Sierra Leonean approach resonates with the cautious and measured disclosure requirement under the SADC PF model law. Yet a few African countries, like Mauritius, impose a strict ban on the disclosure of “any information concerning the result of an HIV test or related medical assessments to any other person”.33 Exceptions are made, however, for voluntary disclosures of HIV status and disclosures ordered by a court or made to a treating heath care worker or for purposes of epidemiological study, research and compilation of statistical data.34 Otherwise, the Mauritian legislation simply requires that a person who tested positive to HIV should be counseled on “the importance [of disclosing] his status to his spouse, sexual partner or children.”35 Kenyan HIV/AIDS legislation substantially mirrors the Mauritian legislation on the issue of disclosure.36 Nigeria, on the other hand, has no HIV/AIDS specific legislation, but a pending bill – National Health Act 2008 (passed by both Houses of the legislature and awaiting Presidential assent) – containing a general provision for the confidentiality of all health information, including HIV/AIDS status, with exceptions for voluntary disclosures and disclosures made in the interests of public health or ordered by the court.37 As the analysis above shows, it may be surmised that while Africa presents an interesting mix of disclosure regimes, the legislative trend, especially in the West and Central African regions, generally favors a duty to warn of the risk of HIV/AIDS infection.
30. See id. at § 21(1)(b).
31. See id. at § 21(4).
32. See id. at § 21(7)-(8).
33. Mauritius, supra note 18, at § 13(4).
34. See id. at § 13(4)(a)-(d) and (5).
35. See id. at § 11(2)(b)(iii).
36. Kenya, supra note 17, at § 22.
37. An Act to Provide a Framework for the Regulation, Development and Management of a National Health Systemand Set Standards for Rendering Health Services in the Federation, and Other Matters Connected Therewith (2008) § 26 (Uganda).

References: § 21
 § 21
 § 21
 § 13
 § 13
 § 11
 § 22
 § 26