HIV patients 'vilified' under proposed law

Aids campaigners have criticised a new law in Kenya that could force HIV-positive patients to reveal their status.

The Aids and HIV Prevention and Control Act 2006 was drawn up following the high profile death of a woman who left a list of more than a 100 people she believed she had infected, Irin News reported.

Although the Act has not yet come into force, it has received presidential approval.

Campaigners fear forced disclosure of status could further stigmatise patients, as doctors could be allowed to reveal information to people's next of kin.

At a recent conference to discuss the merits of the new legislation, High Court advocate Tom K'Opere said: "Why would one bother to go for a test when they already know it could be used against them in a court of law?"

Many of the people with HIV/Aids in Kenya are unaware of their status, with 6,125 people over the age of 15 recorded as infected out of every 100,000 by the World Health Organization in 2005.

Supporters of the new law like Otiende Amollo, a lawyer who collected opinions before the legislation was drafted, said it could protect vulnerable people from sexual abuse.

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