For the past 15 years, the United States has enforced a travel ban on people living with HIV/AIDS. This ban has prevented students, researchers, and refugess affected by the illness from working in the US or obtaining a green card. A Voice of America article explains
The US Congressional reauthorization of PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, in July, 2008, lifted a 15-year ban on HIV-positive foreign nationals from entering the United States. On Tuesday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiated the final regulatory steps toward halting implementation of the ban.
The policy was initially enacted based on fear and misinformation about HIV/AIDS. Only twelve other countries in the world, including Saudi Arabia and Libya, still enforce travel bans on HIV positive foreign nationals.
Health care is the first theme of the Washington Office’s campaign Abundant Life: Economic Justice for All. Visit washington.mcc.org/life for resources and information. This post is the second of a weekly series that will highlight an aspect of health care until July 19, 2009.
