The Peace Corps agreed to end restrictions for people who have HIV, according to a statement by the American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org, 7/30).
Instead of ending volunteer service, Peace Corps policy will require individual assessments for positive volunteers to determine ways to protect their health and allow them to continue serving.
The ACLU’s involvement came after Jeremiah Johnson, a volunteer stationed in Ukraine, was sent home after testing positive for the virus. Johnson’s story quickly hit the press, including the cover of the July/August 2008 issue of POZ.
“We are very pleased that the Peace Corps has acknowledged that it cannot legally terminate volunteers automatically merely because they test positive for HIV,” says Rebecca Shore, a staff attorney with the ACLU.
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Brian C, Milwaukee, 2008-08-05 00:40:41
Not a fully fleshed out article. Ok, they won't terminate volunteers after they contract hiv but will they allow already poz people to sign up to serve?
"I'm HIV positive and diabetic (as well as have high cholesterol) and some of my meds specify taking them with 'high fat foods' which I have to do twice a day. I've eaten as healthy as possible, but when it comes to high fat foods, I am in a quandary...about what to eat sometimes..."
