Security recruitment: 'About 1,300 applicants tested positive for HIV' — Interior Minister

Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has disclosed that about 1,300 applicants who participated in the recent security services recruitment exercise tested positive for HIV during the mandatory medical screening.

The Minister said the development was one of the reasons the government decided against sending medical results directly to applicants who failed the medical assessment.

He explained that medical information, particularly results involving sensitive health conditions, must be communicated with proper counselling to prevent unnecessary distress among applicants.

Speaking before Parliament’s Public Assurance Committee on Tuesday, July 7, the Asawase MP said unsuccessful applicants were instead provided with contact details to enable them to voluntarily request information about their medical results.

"I remember the recent recruitment we had, I think about 1,000 people or so that were tested positive for HIV, and then they said, can you imagine sending somebody a result telling the person that you have HIV? I mean, that's not the procedure. The person has to go through some orientation," the Minister revealed.

The Minister said the decision aligns with medical guidelines, including recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which discourage disclosing sensitive health conditions to patients without appropriate support.

He encouraged applicants who were disqualified after the medical screening to seek information about their results, stressing that some conditions identified during the exercise are treatable.

The miniater noted that applicants were assessed for several medical conditions, including hepatitis B, cardiac issues, previous major surgeries, drug-related concerns and mental health challenges.

"Some of the things that we realize are treatable, so people need to know and then also get treatment, so that subsequent recruitment they could train. You need to know what was the cause, so that at least those that you can treat, you will be able to get out of it," he advised.

He urged applicants not to lose interest after being disqualified because knowing the cause of their medical assessment outcome could help them seek appropriate treatment and improve their chances in future recruitment exercises.