CNN
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A university in Uganda withdrew a requirement for female nursing students and midwives to take a pregnancy test before taking the exam, after facing backlash.
Kampala International University issued a notice on Tuesday stating: “This notice is intended to inform all nurses and midwives that you must go to KIU-TH for a pregnancy test for a fee of 5000 UGX is paid to the hospital account office.”
It added: “If you fail to do so, you will not be able to sit for the UNMEB (Ugandan Nurses and Midwives Examination Board) exam.”
The 5,000 Uganda shilling fee is about $1.33.
Epidemiologist Catherine Kyobutungi, executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), shared a photo of the announcement on Twitter on Wednesday and wrote: “This is completely hogwash, discriminatory and unacceptable.”
She added: “Female nursing and midwifery students being asked to take a pregnancy test, at their own expense as a condition before the sitting exam is top notch nonsense!!!”
Dr Githinji Gitahi, Executive Director of the nonprofit Amref Health Africa, answer by tweeting: “What? Why? Really? Because what does pregnancy have to do with exams? Fetus gives an undue advantage in the exam? I’m so confused.”
FIDA Uganda Women’s Rights Organization posted a photo of a letter it was sent to the private university, reminding the institution that Article 33(3) of the country’s 1995 Constitution “protects women and their rights, taking into account their unique status and function as their natural mother in society and also this prohibits discrimination against women and guarantees their full dignity and equality with men. ”
On Thursday, the university reversed its policy.
“This is to inform all of you that the internal memorandum on pregnancy and pregnancy testing of November 8, 2022 has been annulled (withdrawn),” said Professor Frank Kaharuza, Vice-Chancellor of the Department of Health. The university’s West Campus, wrote in a statement shared by the university on Twitter.
“Focus on getting ready for your UNMEB exams. I wish you all the best in your upcoming exams,” he continued.
The university also responded to FIDA Uganda in an email, shared by the rights group above Twitterconfirms that “no student has been suspended from testing for not taking a pregnancy test”.
FIDA Uganda tweeted: “We are grateful for the cooperation of the vice chancellor’s office and strive to remind all educational institutions that any attempt to police a student’s body represents an act of segregation. body discrimination against students and is a violation of their physical autonomy. . ”
CNN has reached out to Kampala International University for comment.
