AIDS 2014: Travel Restrictions Still Hinder PLWHA
International travel restrictions are among the many challenges that people living with HIV/AIDS face. Reportedly, at least 50 countries prohibit PLWHA from entering. Some countries expel or deport foreigners who have acquired the disease while in that country.
During a session of the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, panelists from the United States, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, India, Germany, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom discussed such restrictions.
Owie Franco shared his personal story of their impact. Franco reports that he traveled from the Philippines to work in Saudi Arabia. He noted that his job performance was satisfactory, and he enjoyed his work. As a condition of his work visa, he said, the Saudi Arabian government required him to undergo medical tests after he had settled into his new job.
Franco contends that without his consent the test results were given to his employer, including results reportedly showing that Franco had acquired HIV. Franco said that he lost his job and was deported as a result. The deportation also negatively affected his personal life.
Alice Sorgho-Ouedraogo, chief of the International Labour Organization's HIV/AIDS and the World of Work Branch in Switzerland, stated that health-related travel restrictions affect a growing number of people, including female workers migrating to different countries to accept job offers. She outlined several ways in which delegates can begin to challenge travel restrictions:
* Provide policymakers with the scientific and other information they need to assist them in making decisions about health-related travel restrictions.
* Develop interregional dialogue among countries about travel restrictions that affect workers.
* Encourage countries to adopt policies that provide for voluntary testing and ensure confidentiality of test results.
Anne T. Sulton, Ph.D., J.D., is the senior international correspondent for the Jackson Advocate.