Expelled AIDS patient transported to fever hospital for treatment

CAIRO – 16 August 2019: An HIV/AIDS patient in Egypt's Gharbia on Thursday was transported to Tanta Fever Hospital for treatment, amid anger of social media users who circulated photos showing the patient expelled from a hospital in the governorate.



The patient was transported to the fever hospital following instructions from deputy health minister in Gharbia Abdel Kader Kilany. An Egypt Today reporter has accompanied the patient in the ambulance vehicle to ensure required procedures are taken.



The AIDS patient, who earlier admitted abusing drugs, in an interview with Egypt Today, asked to be treated from addiction in order to return to his normal life.



The AIDS patient on Wednesday was expelled from a hospital in Kafr al-Zayat, a city in Egypt's Gharbia governorate. Photos showed the action was also done in a humiliating way, and those involved in the incident are investigated.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health blamed the officials for expelling the patient without taking medical and legal procedures required for him. The ministry affirmed that those who dealt with the patient in the way shown by the photos spreading on social media must be held accountable.

Officials of the National HIV/AIDS Program headed to the fever hospital in Gharbia, to check the arrival of the patient to the hospital, but did not find him. Some workers said he returned home instead.

The statement said that officials are trying to reach the patient to be placed under quarantine in the places treating HIV/AIDS patients.