Comments on: Nigerian university which has imposed compulsory HIV testing for its graduates

By: Geebee

Geebee — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:39:45 +0000

It is a shame that a university thinks that HIV is all about SEX. Virgins have been known to contact HIV. Babies and Children have been known to contact HIV. Doctors and patients have contacted HIV via blood and body fluid contacts. People have picked HIV from dentists and barbers etc.

It is indeed a shame if a Univeristy thinks HIV means immoral behaviour!

By: jonolan

jonolan — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:27:13 +0000

You make a very valid point about the wife – though the same could easily be true of a husband; we haven’t cornered the market on infidelity.

Go to their website; they’re actually kind of scary. I wouldn’t go there, nor would I send my children.

By: sista

sista — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:39:49 +0000

Example: A married woman who is attending that university could contract HIV from her husband. By that view, she being positive would be seen as immoral.

How would testing accurately be an indicator of the wife’s morality in that case? She is being a wife, having sex with her husband…is the marriage bed is undefiled?

I don’t subscribe to that view either…but yes this is a private university and they will govern themselves.

By: jonolan

jonolan — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:18:20 +0000

Here’s the rub – CU is a Christian Mission University. Anyone who wants to go there must adhere to the universities policies, which are notentirely secular. Even non-christian students must attend chapel services.

I would say that, under the umbrella of “christian” morality, testing positive for HIV wouldn’t make someone immoral but would be a reasonble indicator of immoral behavior.

I don’t subscribe to that view myself, but understand that a private mission univerisity has the right to have their opinions.

By: sista

sista — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:49:43 +0000

I asked if the test shows morality. Of course I think people should be tested, . However, I don’t want people who test positive to be classified as “immoral” based on the reason behind the testing.

The article notes that they want “to produce “total graduates” which means in addition to passing all examinations, Covenant University graduates must be “morally upright” too.” Testing is great, necessary, and needed. However, they should test for the good of people, not so that testing can be used to judge the moral and immoral. Having HIV doesn’t make you immoral, just as being pregnant doesn’t.

So I agree with you that testing is the morally upright thing to do, but producing more stigma in Africa for those with HIV isn’t.

By: jonolan

jonolan — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:38:10 +0000

So testing and knowledge are bad? I’d say, given the 6% infection rate in Nigeria, that morally upright might better be described as intelligent.