Peace Corps Reaffirms HIV Applicant Policy

As many of you know Peace Corps hosted at least 8 forums and/or information tables at Gay Pride related events this past summer. I had heard from two of these events that Peace Corps recruiters were telling interested parties, that Peace Corps was revising its policies toward PC applicants with HIV disease to medically exclude them from Peace Corps service. In other locations recruiters knew nothing of any change and were providing those asking with information about the policy that has existed for several years. This policy basically states that Peace Corps treats HIV disease like any other serious medical condition, and makes decisions on whether an applicant is medically fit for a Peace Corps assignment based on each individual case.

I communicated with several contacts that I have within Peace Corps. I wanted to know if the policy was going to be changed to “blanket” exclude from Peace Corps any applicant who was HIV positive, regardless of current health status. It took a while to get a straight answer. It appears to me that Peace Corps was considering a change in the policy but has decided to retain it’s policy of several years that applicants with HIV disease will be medically evaluated on an individual basis.

There is, of course, the issue of the legal basis for nondiscrimination and the requirement for reasonable accommodation of disabilities for all government employees through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This forbids otherwise qualified individuals with a disability from being excluded from participation in or being denied the benefits of any Federal Government program or activity solely because of that disability. This could have affected Peace Corps’ decision.

This long time policy of treating applicants who are HIV positive individually has always been supported by LGB RPCVs. When drug therapies became available several years ago, and changed HIV to a condition that was for many one that was chronic and manageable, our board decided to press for the possibility that qualified applicants who were HIV positive could serve in the Peace Corps, given a medical evaluation and assignment in a country where appropriate medical care was available. It was clear to us that there were many Peace Corps assignments that would be risky for anyone HIV positive, regardless of health status. One member of our board at the time, young, healthy and athletic, told us he had almost died in his remote African village. He couldn’t imagine anyone who was HIV positive, regardless of current health, living there with the health hazards that he and the local people faced on a daily basis.

It seems to us that there are many countries where PCVs serve that are too risky for anyone with HIV disease, regardless of current health. On the other hand, there are a few countries: South Africa, Thailand, a couple in Eastern Europe, and perhaps a couple of others where health hazards are more limited and adequate local health care available. There is also the issue of HIV status and the granting of visas for PCVs in some countries. Some countries require proof of the absence of HIV disease.

From a pragmatic position, there are probably very limited opportunities for an applicant with HIV disease, as there would be with applicants with other chronic or serious medical conditions. But, every person with HIV positive status needs her or his day to be fairly and equitably evaluated for an assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. We are pleased that Peace Corps retains its long time policy.