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Last week, I saw a chilling post on one of the many Facebook pages I have subscribed to. A lady posted about an unfortunate incident that had happened to her friend’s child.
Apparently, the house girl had infected the two-year-old with HIV. I do not know how exactly they established that sensitive fact, but as it is, both parents are HIV negative.
The issue sparked off a very touchy debate that nobody ever wants to touch lest activists come for your neck. From the reactions from the post, the question that came out was “given such tragic eventualities, is it then proper to take your house girl for a HIV test?”
Some would argue that it is necessary because they are taking care of your precious commodity and you need to know their status lest...
The paranoid mother would go like, “What if she cuts herself while preparing veggies and my baby touches her blood?”
But the sober and right thinking mother would argue that it is discriminatory to ask for such details from an employee.
Her argument would go something like: “Were you asked for a HIV certificate by your employer before you were employed?” The answer is definitely a no. “Then why would you subject your employee to such stigmatizing actions yet you were not subjected to such?”
When I read that post, I shuddered and thought of my seven-month-old baby. Several questions flooded my mind and I had some serious soul searching.
But would I go that way? Dishonest as it may sound, I would not. I like to do to others what I would like them to do unto me.
How would I feel if my employer asked me for my HIV certificate before hiring me? I would feel like I am being ostracised for no good reason.
What happened to that two-year-old baby is unfortunate and should never happen to another minor. And if that house girl infected the poor baby knowingly and maliciously, may she face the full force of the law.
That said, forcing your house help to undergo a HIV test before you can hire her is going overboard and is tantamount to discrimination based on ones HIV status. It is also illegal according to the HIV and Aids Prevention and Control Act of 2006 that hopes to stem stigma and discrimination.
So how can we keep our children safe from malicious house girls who may have evil motives like infecting a child with HIV? For me, the answer is divine. Faith and prayer. When I am in the process of hiring a domestic worker, I always pray that God gives me a good caregiver who will not bring harm to my precious jewels. By the way, have you read 'Power of a Praying Parent' by Stormie Ormatian? It will guard your mind from such headaches.
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