Malawi sex workers to get damages over forced HIV tests

Malawi sex workers to get damages over forced HIV tests

A Malawi court has ruled that 11 prostitutes who were forced to take HIV tests by police six years ago will be awarded damages, a court official said Thursday citing a judgement.

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The sex workers were rounded up in 2009 in the southern city of Mwanza, hauled to a government hospital for HIV testing without their consent and the results were disclosed in an open court. High court judge Dorothy Kamanga ordered that the prostitutes "should be compensated and file for compensation within 14 days," according to the ruling handed down on Wednesday and read out to AFP by a court clerk.

A lab technician works in the viral load room at the Thyolo District hospital in Malawi in November, 2014 ©Marco Longari (AFP)

The judge said actions by both police and health workers in subjecting the women to forced HIV tests, and disclosing their sta

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