Faridah Kiconco, a 37-year-old Ugandan woman who underwent HIV therapy for six years before learning she was never positive, has requested compensation.
Kiconco, a resident of Kiziba Parish, Kagango Sub-county in Sheema District, sought antenatal care at the close-by Kabwohe Health Centre IV in 2011 when she got pregnant.
Her HIV test was originally recommended by the medical staff; it was positive, and she was then started on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
She told Daily Monitor, “I did not have any health issues when I started taking ARVs, but I accepted to take my prescription for my life’s sake.”
On July 11, 2012, she delivered her first born at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and she continued with her medication until when she delivered her second child on August 12, 2017 at Kabwohe Health Centre IV before developing side effects, a month after giving birth.
She narrates that her skin turned yellow thereafter, and her major body organs weren’t functioning normally.
Upon her return to Kabwohe Health Centre IV where she was tested again for HIV, she was referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) where she was declared HIV negative after a medical test. While at the referral hospital, more tests were conducted and blood samples taken to Kampala.https://odibets.com/widget/freebet
“Three days later, the (Kabwohe Health Centre IV in-charge) called me and after reading through the results, he declared me HIV negative,” Ms Kiconco says.
Ms Kiconco in 2018 filed a case at Mbarara High Court against the government, seeking compensation but the case is yet to be heard, four years later.
Her lawyer, Mr Amon Aruho of Mubiru & Aruho Associate Advocates, says her client suffered physically and emotionally due to consumption of ARVs.
“The ARVs affected her body organs such as the kidney and liver. We want her compensated for the damages she has suffered as a result of the ARVs,” he claims.
“When this matter had started taking shape, Covid-19 came in and the judge who was hearing the matter, Justice Jane Kiggundu, retired, so the file is awaiting a new judge.”
When contacted, Mbarara High Court deputy registrar Samuel Twakyire said the absence of the judge delayed the hearing of the case.
“Since that case was brought to court, it has never been heard and even the current Principal Judge had dismissed it because the parties involved were not attending court,” he said.
He continued, “I think that if we get another judge, it will take off. It was later reinstated, and since then the judge has been missing because she retired and they have not yet given us another judge.
“The situation has gone to another level and I have not been involved, but I know that it is being handled,” says Kadaraza Edrida, acting health officer for the Sheema District.
Dr. Holace Kizito, who is in charge of Kabwohe Health Centre IV, says: “I just started working here a few months ago, so I don’t know much about that problem, and I wasn’t there when it happened, so I can’t tell you much.”
