Section 1: In this Act unless the context otherwise requires–

“Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)” means a condition characterised by a combination of signs and symptoms caused by HIV which attacks and weakens the body’s immune system making the afflicted person susceptible to other life – threatening infections; “anonymous testing” means an HIV testing procedure whereby the person being tested does not reveal his true identity but instead, an identifying number or symbol is used which allows the testing centre and tested person to match the tested results with the identifying number or symbol; “child” means a person below the age of eighteen years; “compel” in relation to HIV testing, refers to an HIV test imposed upon a person without his consent, by use of force, intimidation or any other form of compulsion; “consent” means consent given without any force, fraud or threat and with full knowledge and understanding of the medical and social consequences of the matter to which the consent relates; “health institution” means a hospital, nursing home, maternity home, health centre, dispensary, laboratory, pharmacy or other public or private institution where healthcare services are provided; “health care provider” means– (a) a medical practitioner or dental surgeon registered under the Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons Act, 1994; (b) a pharmacist or pharmacy technician registered under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, 2001; (c) a nurse registered under the Nurses Act; (d) a midwife registered under the Midwives Act; (e) a laboratory technician; (f) a community health officer; and any other person approved by the Minister under section 13. “healthcare service” rendered to a person means– (a) physical or mental examination of that person; (b) treatment or prevention of any physical or mental defect, illness or deficiency and the giving of advice to that defect, illness or deficiency, in a health institution or any other institution or place where surgical or other medical procedures are performed in relation to any physical or mental defect, illness, deficiency or pregnancy; 2 3 Act. No. 12 of 1994. Act. No. 12 of 2001. Cap 153 Cap 152 No. 8 Prevention and Control of HIV and AIDS Act 2007 No. 8 Prevention and Control of HIV and AIDS Act 2007 (c) provision of pre-test or post-test counseling services; “HIV” means Human Immunodeficiency Virus, that weakens the immune system ultimately leading to AIDS; “HIV test” means a test which determines whether a person is infected with HIV; “local council” means a local council established under the Local Government Act, 2004. “medical insurance” means a health insurance taken under the Insurance Act, 2000; “medical practitioner” includes a dentist; “Minister” means the Minister of Health and Ministry shall be construed accordingly; “NAS” means the National AIDS Secretariat; “partner” means a spouse or other person with whom another person is in a domestic or sexual relationship; “person living with HIVand AIDS” means a person whose HIV test indicates that he is infected with HIV, but may or may not have developed AIDS; “positive” in relation to the result of an HIV test, means a result which confirms that the person who is tested is infected with HIV; “post-test counseling” means a process of providing a person who submits himself for an HIV test with risk – reduction information and emotional support at the time the result is released; “pre-test counseling” means the process of providing a person, before he undergoes an HIV test, with information on the biomedical aspects of HIV and AIDS and emotional support with respect to the psychological implications of undergoing an HIV tests; “testing centre” means a testing centre approved by the Minister under section 13; “tissue” includes an organ or part of a human body, semen, breast milk and any other substance, secretion other than blood extracted from the human body or from a part of the human body; “uniformed force” means the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Sierra Leone Police Force, the Sierra Leone Prisons and the National Fire Force; PART II – EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ON HIV AND AIDS