Woman who had been misdiagnosed with HIV to be retested

Pregnant woman who tested HIV Positive in July tests negative

What you need to know:

  • The Kwale County Government says it will take responsibility should investigations show that there was a misdiagnosis.

  • Health executive Athman Chiguzo told the Nation on Thursday that a team made up of officials from the National Aids and STI Control Programme (Nascop) and the Health department had been constituted to repeat the test and write a report.

A 34-year-old woman who was wrongly diagnosed with HIV at Diani Health Centre will be retested as investigations into the incident continue.

The Kwale County Government says it will take responsibility should investigations show that there was a misdiagnosis.

Health executive Athman Chiguzo told the Nation on Thursday that a team made up of officials from the National Aids and STI Control Programme (Nascop) and the Health department had been constituted to repeat the test and write a report.

He added that the team would look at the batch number used in testing, and verify the results.

“I have talked to head of Nascop Martin Sirengo and he has promised to bring an official from Nairobi since this issue must be addressed professionally,” he said.

Mr Chiguzo added that once the officer arrives, the woman will be requested to undergo another test.

He added that the family would be allowed to bring a medical expert.

The executive said the county government wanted to know whether the tests, which declared Ms Esther Mwakazi negative, were confirmatory or rapid.

He added that there were chances that the gadgets used at the dispensary were faulty.

“I ask the family to be cooperative and patient,” he said.

Contacted, Ms Mwakazi and Mr Fredrick Omondi said they were ready for the test.

“Even if they ask me to present myself today, I will do it,” she told the Nation by phone.

Earlier, Haki Africa, an NGO, served the health centre with a letter signed by Ms Salma Hemed on behalf of executive director Hussein Khalid, demanding that the hospital admits it was negligent.

The letter demanded that the health centre compensates Ms Mwakazi in 14 days, failure to which the organisation would go to court.

Mr Chiguzo ignored the letter, saying even the NGO would require the results of the investigation if it wanted to press charges.