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Namibia Lifts HIV Travel Ban

   Joe DeCapua 08 July 2010

   Namibia has lifted its long-standing travel ban for people living with
   HIV.

   Namibian officials say even though thereâs no record of enforcement of
   the  ban,  it  did  not  reflect Namibiaâs commitment to democracy and
   human rights.  UNAIDS praises the decision, saying the country is now
   in line with international public health standards.

   âThe  fact that visitors coming to Namibia have to fill in a visa form
   where  they  are  asked whether they suffer from a contagious disease,
   including  HIV  and  AIDS,  which is legally done as a basis to refuse
   them  entry into the country, is a difficult issue to face,â says Henk
   Van Renterghem, UNAIDS country coordinator for Namibia.

   Whatâs  more,  he  adds, âItâs discrimination against people suffering
   from a disease.â

   The right thing to do

   Van  Renterghem  says  besides  being  âthe  right  thing  to  doâ  in
   bolstering human rights, lifting the ban supports the countryâs public
   health policy.

   âThere  is  no evidence whatsoever that limiting mobility or travel of
   people  living  with HIV has any effect on the epidemic.  And in this
   sense, people who live with the diseaseâ¦get the wrong impression they
   should  be  somehow contained in their mobility and in their rights to
   move around freely,â he says.

   The  United  States  and China recently lifted their long-standing HIV
   travel  restrictions.   But  UNAIDS  reports there are â51 countries,
   territories and areas that continue to impose some form of restriction
   on  the  entry,  stay and residence of people living with HIV based on
   their HIV status.â

   It  goes  on to say that five countries deny visas for even short-term
   stays, while 22 countries âdeport individuals once their HIV status is
   discovered.â

   Relic of the past?

   âMost  of  these  regulations  and laws were put in place in the early
   days  of  the epidemic,â says Van Renterghem. Â âIt gives a very wrong
   impression  of  how  we  treat  people living with HIV.  We know that
   stigma  and discrimination against people living with HIVâ¦reduce to a
   large extentâ¦the capacity to access services.â

   He  says lifting such bans sends a message to HIV-positive people that
   âwe  care  about  you.   Youâre  equal  to  all other citizens and we
   everything  to  put in place a framework that allows us to provide the
   best possible services.â

   UNAIDS  Executive  Director Michel Sidibe has designated 2010 the year
   of lifting of HIV travel restrictions.

   âThatâs  why  itâs  important that countries (such) as the U.S., China
   and   Namibia   actually  effectively  lift  these  regulations,â  Van
   Renterghem says.

   Rights here, right now

   The  18^th  International  AIDS Conference, AIDS 2010, will be held in
   Vienna  from  July  18^th  through  the  23^rd.   The  theme  of  the
   conference  is  Rights Here, Right Now.  Van Renterghem says a number
   of news conferences and sessions are planned on the travel ban issue.

   UNAIDS  says, âThere is no evidence that such restrictions prevent HIV
   transmission or protect public health. Furthermore, HIV-related travel
   restrictions have no economic justification, as people living with HIV
   can lead long and productive working lives.â

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