State Department Ends HIV Screening of Foreign Workers at US Diplomatic Posts

The State Department is ending HIV screening of foreign personnel and locally hired Americans at US diplomatic posts. In an announcement Thursday the department said, "With this new policy, the US sets an example consistent with its message of nondiscrimination to host countries." The new policy applies to the approximately 39,000 foreign nationals and locally hired US citizens who work at the 250 US embassies and consulates around the world. Before the change was ordered, US ambassadors had the option of requiring HIV screening. This was the practice at some 20 posts overseas, many of them in Africa, said Phillip Reeker, the department's deputy spokesperson.

US foreign service officers will still be required to undergo HIV testing. If the results are positive, they are denied employment. Dr. Cedric Dumont, the department's medical director, said one reason for this is that a foreign service officer must be available for assignment to any country, and medical treatment may not be available. In May, Reeker announced that US embassies in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda had ended testing of prospective local employees. Yesterday, he said the department was conducting a pilot HIV education and prevention program at the US Embassy and a consulate in South Africa and at the embassy in Kenya. He also said that over the next three years, medical coverage will be expanded at all posts where HIV is prevalent. The department did not provide an estimate of the cost.

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