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Share your stories of how HIV-related travel restrictions affected you, your colleagues or your relatives

The International AIDS Society is collecting case studies and personal stories to document the impact of HIV-related travel/entry restrictions on the lives of people living with HIV and their families and colleagues. The purpose is to give voice to PLHIV who are directly affected by these discriminatory laws and policies.

Personal impact stories will help to strengthen key advocacy messages and convey the evidence that travel/entry restrictions based on HIV-status are wrong. The IAS believes such polices are not rooted in sound public health policy, that these restrictions violate human rights and that these restrictions have negative economic impacts on the lives of affected individuals and the people around them.

Experiences of PLHIV affected by HIV-related travel restrictions will also inform the development of recommendations to be made by the International Task Team on HIV-related Travel Restrictions to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board and the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, in late 2008.

If you would like to share your experience with the Task Team, please send your comments using the form below or email your story to the Secretariat at the International AIDS Society. You can offer your name and personal information if you wish to but we respect your right to privacy and anonymity. You may choose to offer your story anonymously. If you do wish to identify yourself and your story below, please provide us with an e-mail address that will remain private, but will allow us to contact you for any clarification.

Thank you for your sharing your story as we work to reverse these harmful policies.

 
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Comment:

Comments
Posted: 11 July 2010
By:  doglas  dashy,  ,  United Kingdom
Comment:
My name Doglas dashy from Engla, Oxford,UK ...HIV has been ongoing in my family for long..I lost both parents to HIV and it is so much pain have not been able to get over.As we all know medically,there is no solution or cure for HIV and the cost for Medication is very expensive..Someone introduced me to a man(Native Medical Practitional)in oxfod..I showed the man all my Tests and Results and i told him have already diagnosed with HIV and have spent thousands of dollars on medication..I said i will like to try him cos someone introduced me to him..He asked me sorts of questions and i answered him correctly..To cut the story short,He gave me some medicinal soaps and some herbs(have forgot the name he called them) and he thought me how am gonna use them all..At first i was skeptical but i just gave it a try..I was on his Medication for 2 weeks and i used all the soaps and herbs according to his prescription.. that he will finish the rest himself..and i called him 3 days after, i arrived and i told him what is the next thing..he said,he has been expecting my call.. he told me to visit my doctor for another test..Honestly speaking,i never believe all he was saying until after the test when my doctor mention the statement that am, HIV negative and the doctor start6ed asking me how do i do it....Am telling this story in case anyone may need this man his email is apostleshadavic@yahoo.com
Posted: 29 April 2010
By:  Minneh  Kamau,  SAN-FAN Educational Group,  Canada
Comment:
I have noticed that the post of 19 January 2010 By: Rukia farh, The international community of women living with HIV(kenya chapter), Kenya is exactly as my entry of 6 April 2009 with substitute on a few words. I know I came to conference and did not go back because I love my life and this person is trying to make up a story so that International AIDS Society does not select people from third world countries to go to conferences. I am here, my life has been saved, I got permanent residence after a battle of 12 years with immigration and this is not a laughing matter. I was very brave...
Posted: 11 April 2010
By:  Godelive  Ndayikengurukiye,  Burundese Community in Toronto,  Canada
Comment:
I beleive the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board denied me refugee status based on my HIV status. All evidences of persecution me and my family had provided were merely and unhumanly rejected. me , my husband and two children, 11 and 16 at present, have applied Permanent residence for Humanitarian and Compassionate reasons, based on the stigma, harassment and discrimination we would face back in Burundi. Our application is still pending since september 2008. However, instead of making a decision on our application for permanent residence for Humanitarian and Compassionate reasons, Immigration Canada has started our deportation process. We are requested to apply for a Pre-removal Risk Assessment, that will certainly dismiss us for "Medical Inadmissibiltity"; our lawyer is convinced of the process failure. We have no say; our medical doctors have no say....., we have no international human rights protection; we are unwanted... My son is 11 , in good shape and brilliant in school but HIV-positive; my daughter is vey smart at school, plans to undertake health science in two years since today.... how can I reveal them that they will be deported soon? me and my husband are working part-time as French speaking supply teachers and both of us have registered for studies at universities three times without affording the international fee rate( sinc we are not landed immigrants yet). Both of us are university graduates, bilinguals English/French, employable but who cares about us? Immigration canada does not care. We are considered as a medical burden but at the same time we have already demonstrated our ability to work and contribute to Canada,s economic growth. But who cares? Nobody? I do not sleep; I do not handle my fears and hopelessness, I do not handle not revealing the deportation truth to my innocent children. I feel may be if my kids could find families to adopt them in Canada, I would stop taking ARVs and die instead of going back to Burundi. I nedd help, would you advice please? Godelive Ndayikengurukiye
Posted: 19 January 2010
By:  Rukia  farh,  The international community of women living with HIV(kenya chapter),  Kenya
Comment:
I came to Mexico in 2008 to the International AIDS conference. After nine days of being in Mexico with a valid visitor visa, immigration officers came to my door and asked if I was HIV+, if I was cleaning houses without a permit and if I had a passport. I had lost my passport and had contacted France High Commission about getting a new passport. I agreed to have HIV and cleaning houses without a permit. I had to live and I wasn't about to educated my children That almost killed me.No money ,No food, No job. My next move was that I was asked to leave the country in 30 days. Without ticket fare, I could not leave. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise. I was picked up again and taken to the detention center. I went through a hearing and asked to report to immigration every Tuesday. I was out on a 8000ksh bond which a friend Madam lucy Mulekeina paid otherwise I was doomed. I had asked another friend to go and pay the bond and my local immigration office told the elderly lady that I have NO visa or No money , the France ambassador in Kenya taken the money, After a while, I applied for refugee status and was denied. I did a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) which I passed but because I was inadmissible due to a disease, I am not a protected person. The PRRA only helped to stop me from being removed. Anyway, I was allowed to apply for permanent residence but was denied because I have AIDS. I got married in 1980. a widow with three children And was given a temporary resident permit (TRP) for three years. Time came to apply again for permanent residence but because my TRP was because I was deemed inadmissible due to a disease, we could not do spousal application. I could however apply for permanent residence as a temporary resident holder class. I am awaiting those results. This immigration journey has been long. Why? I have AIDS.
Posted: 01 December 2009
By:    ,  ,  India
Comment:
Good day to all. I am M-37, and was diagnosed +ve 1 1/2 yrs back. I had to change three jobs whenever it wasd found that i am taking medicines for my living. I am good at my work, punctual and hardworking yet my work is overshadowed by my disease. I started work early as 19 and have taken life insurance and medicalim policies since i was 19 and i have been regularly paying premia on the same. Now these very institutes do not allow me to claim any. Not that I have claimed, but the clause states that people like us cannot claim. Why such castration. We work like others infact work more so that we can make the most of our remaining time so that we can help our families. We are made to feel as if we are a burden and are shun as if we have made a crime. Why ?? Even cases of cancer, tuberculosis, malaria are more deadly and hepatitis B can be transmitted even without contactis covered then why should people like us suffer. Already beacuse of this stigma we are almost in a state of depression. the society has not yet learnt to accept it as another disease. Why then make us suffer more..
Posted: 25 September 2009
By:  Aminata  Cherif,  any ,  Guinea
Comment:
GOOD MORNING DEAR SIR/MADAME I AM VERY CONFUSE I NEED YOUR HELP I AM SEROPOSITIVE SINCE 2 MOIS , BUT I AM ASHAMED I DONT WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IT BEAUSE I AM FROM A POOR FAMILY I WANT TO TRAVEL AND LEAVE THIS COUNTRY.PLEASE HELP ME,PLEASE I AM WAITING FOR YOUR ANSWER. BEST REGARDS
Posted: 23 June 2009
By:  gloria  Wan,  Media officer-BUPNG,  Papua New Guinea
Comment:
I would like to send a story about my realtives who are affected by the HIV/Aids virus...i haven't written it out yet but once its done, i will send it. Could you send me your e-mail address so that i can e-mail to you... Thanks Gloria
Posted: 23 May 2009
By:  john   kuiga,  ,  Tanzania, United Republic of
Comment:
SUPORTER FOR OTHER CUONTRY We are mission from ST JOHN MAUTANGA MISSION and we,are educate people about HIV and AIDS who are affected by that deasece so can submit comment /application to us Nation which develpement and we are help these was affected by HIV and ther people who can protected from this deasece
Posted: 06 April 2009
By:  Minneh  Bushby,  SAN-FAN Educational Group,  Canada
Comment:
I came to Canada in 1996 to the International AIDS conference. After two years of being in Canada with a valid visitor visa, immigration officers came to my door and asked if I was HIV+, if I was cleaning houses without a permit and if I had a passport. I had lost my passport and had contacted Kenya High Commission about getting a new passport. I agreed to have HIV and cleaning houses without a permit. I had to live and I wasn't about to prostitute like I did in Kenya. That almost killed me. My next move was that I was asked to leave the country in 30 days. Without ticket fare, I could not leave. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise. I was picked up again and taken to the detention center. I went through a hearing and asked to report to immigration every Tuesday. I was out on a $1000 bond which a friend paid otherwise I was doomed. I had asked another friend to go and pay the bond and my local immigration office told the elderly lady that I was a drug addict and she will never see her money again. After a while, I applied for refugee status and was denied. I did a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) which I passed but because I was inadmissible due to a disease, I am not a protected person. The PRRA only helped to stop me from being removed. Anyway, I was allowed to apply for permanent residence but was denied because I have AIDS. I got married in 2005. And was given a temporary resident permit (TRP) for three years. Time came to apply again for permanent residence but because my TRP was because I was deemed inadmissible due to a disease, we could not do spousal application. I could however apply for permanent residence as a temporary resident holder class. I am awaiting those results. This immigration journey has been long. Why? I have AIDS.
Posted: 10 March 2009
By:  Derek  Brinckman,  Private,  United Kingdom
Comment:
I was going on holiday to Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), and although my passport has a microchip and is part of the Visa Waiver Programme I was told that I would need an ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorization). I applied online and was refused. The only reason that I can think of is that I'm HIV+. I am 66 years old, never had a criminal record in my country, and have never been to the United States in my life before. I would only be in transit and not even leaving the airport, but because I would be travelling on their planes it would appear that I am being discriminated against because of my condition and has nothing remotely concerned with security. There seems to be many other medical conditions which comes under this category.
Posted: 02 March 2009
By:  sujan  jirel,  Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN),  Nepal
Comment:
As, i myself being a HIV positive, i am interested to know more about the task team/how to involve. and also want to share what we are facing in nepal regaring HIV related issues. Hope to be in touch..... cheers, sujan
Posted: 06 December 2008
By:  C  E,  private,  Cameroon
Comment:
I think such restrictions are uncalled for. It's like violating an individual's rights and its a pity that even countries like USA that always claim to set a good example are doing that. Its not like there is no HIV+ individual in those countries. Had been living in china for more than 3 years and had a well fluorishing business. Wanted to extend my visa and theu called and told me something was wrong with my blood. i guessed what was wrong cos it had happened to someone before , the person went there , they took more blood after some days am sure to run a confirmation test. some days after, the person was picked up, was under house arrest, the whole stuff was in the a local newspapper and online. humiliating and the person had to sign whatever piece of paper hen taken to the airport. well since i guessed what was coming up, i sneaked out of my city, to avoid that humiliation. well immigration authorities started looking for me after i left the city. my bank accounts were monitored, my phone lines tapped, it was like i had commiteted a crime. went home without a dime, scared, embarrased, everything i had worked hard to achieve gone.its like my life had ended and i was very devastated. so if someone is sick does it mean the person cannot lead a normal life? am very healthy, healthier than some people who are negative , why can't they give us the opportunity to live the kind of lives we want??? fortunately after some months i was able to stand up and face life.
Posted: 04 November 2008
By:  Moll  Moll,  usikea,  Holy See (Vatican City State)
Comment:
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Posted: 04 November 2008
By:  Mat  Mat,  dyyrppb,  Puerto Rico
Comment:
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Posted: 19 October 2008
By:    ,  ,  United States
Comment:
I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE DECISION OF NOT ALLOWING HIV + PEOPLE THE OPTION TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. HIV/AIDS IS A HUGE PROBLEM EVERYWHERE. DENYING HIV+ PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. SHOULD BE LIFTED. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR NOT ALLOWING THEM TO TRAVEL? I AM HIV+ AND HAVE MADE FRIENDS WITH BOTH FEMALES AND MALES FROM NIGERIA WHO ARE POSITIVE ALSO. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL IF THERE FINANCES ALLOW THEM. PLEASE REVIEW AND CHANGE THAT HARMFUL POLICIES. BEING HIV+ DOES NOT DEFINED A PERSON. PLEASE RECONSIDER......
Posted: 09 September 2008
By:  Boima  Jallah,  Student,  [No country]
Comment:
I have got may relatives living permanetly in Australia. I would like to join them and live in peace, however, I do not know my HIV/AIDS status. Am really wishing to reunite with my family members, but will the Australian Government accepted entry Visa if am Dynose with HIV/AIDS? I would like for all country to do as the USA has just done, to lift travel ban on people living HIV/AIDS. This can help in the fight against this disease. Are there not treatement for HIV/AIDS now? Is discrimination a part of this treatment? Leaders of this world, do us a favor.
Posted: 20 August 2008
By:  raja  lechemy,  dhl,  Malaysia
Comment:
Dear Sir, I am an Indian Passport holder living in Malaysia.( PR in Malaysia) Do i need a re-entry to go to Brunei and Return KUL. Please advise. tks
Posted: 04 August 2008
By:  idris  olaneye,  bj communications,  Nigeria
Comment:
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Posted: 29 July 2008
By:  Nicholas  Nicholas,  pqmuynf,  Cameroon
Comment:
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Posted: 20 July 2008
By:  ismael  suleman,  ,  Ethiopia
Comment:
i had sex with prostitue& the condom was removed from one third of my penis(the last part) but can aids pass to me if she had it? i want ur help plz reply asap
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