Source: The Star
A number of doctors have raised the alarm about what they see a dangerous move by their bosses at the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation headquarters in Afya House. They are concerned that a decision to replace tried and tested HIV testing kits with new ones that have not yet met the approval of the World Health Organization may be motivated by financial considerations, rather than the health and well-being of Kenyans.
The Director of Public Health and Sanitation Dr SK Sharif has notified health officers that the new kits already being supplied will replace the old ones that have been successfully used for the last 10 years. The only reason given is that while the old rapid test kits give results in 15 minutes, the new ones, dubbed ultra-rapid, claim to give results in five to 15 minutes.
Even this claim is under contention, as health staff who have received the new kits say it still takes 15 minutes for a conclusive HIV test. Whereas the ministry, together with the National Aids Control Council and the National Blood Safety Committee will have the last say on which kits are used, the fact that health professionals are raising concern needs to be addressed. And if indeed WHO is yet to give the new kits its mark of approval, then there should be no rush to adopt them.