Tanzania anger over red ribbon labels for HIV pupils

Red ribbons that  how solidarity with people living with HIV. In Tanzania, 

HIV pupils wearing ribbons are excused from chores like fetching water. 

By BBCPosted Friday, March 16  2012 at  08:2

Campaigners in Tanzania have criticised some schools for making HIV-positive pupils wear a red ribbon on their uniforms.

The headmaster of one school said that it was done at the parents' request to ensure that all sickly pupils do not do tasks that may affect their health.

But such stigmatisation was against the law, punishable by up to three years in jail, a campaign group warned.

The health minister has said he cannot comment until it is investigated.

According to UNAids, about 5 per cent of the population - 1.4m people - in the East African nation are living with HIV.
'Confidential'

In Dar es Salaam city, activists have reacted with horror to the labelling of pupils in the Kibaha district.

They believe at least seven schools in the area, about 40km (25 miles) north-west of Dar es Salaam, are using the ribbon system.

"They are only doing that because they want to identify those who are HIV-positive," said Jane Tibihita, a co-ordinator of Upendo Partnership, a local campaign group.

Rebecca Mshumbusi, chairperson of the Kibaha Association of People Living with HIV/Aids, said it was unethical to reveal a person's health status in public.