Thread: HIV ban to be lifted

Thoughts?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8334810.stm

The US is to end its 22-year ban on people with HIV entering the country, President Barack Obama has confirmed.

Mr Obama made the announcement as he extended funding for an act that provides HIV/Aids related health care.

"If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/Aids, we need to act like it," Mr Obama said.

The US is one of only about a dozen countries barring entry on HIV status. The ban is expected to be lifted at the beginning of 2010.

'End the stigma'

Mr Obama confirmed the move as he signed the Ryan White HIV/Aids Treatment Extension Act.

Mr Obama said the entry ban had been "rooted in fear rather than fact".

He said: "We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the Aids pandemic - yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country.

"On Monday, my administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year."

Mr Obama added: "It will also take an effort to end the stigma that has stopped people from getting tested, that has stopped people from facing their own illness and that has sped the spread of this disease for far too long."

The process to lift the ban had begun under the administration of George W Bush.

The Ryan White Act is named after a 13-year-old boy who contracted the virus via blood transfusion and helped educate Americans about the disease until his death in 1990 aged 18.

The act helps about 500,000 people, many on low incomes, by providing treatment and support.

HIV was added in 1987 to the list of diseases disqualifying people from entering the US.

Yeah i'm not sure if I agree with this at all . . . I didn't know that the US barred people with HIV from entering the country but I can easily see why that rule was put in place.

I live in DC and work in the medical field, i am SHOCKED by how many HIV positive patients there are. Many of which do not take their disease seriously at all. They don't regularly visit their doctors, they don't take their medication, and they don't practice safe sex. And when I say "Many" i'm talking like 50% of the people that I see don't take HIV seriously.

Allowing more people with HIV into the country will only help to further the problem in my opinion. In a perfect world, providing money for low income families affected by HIV is a good idea. But as I said earlier, many patients simply are not compliant.

Wasn't even aware we banned people with it from entering the country.

This could go two ways.

Extreme right will say that this is a threat and these people will start spreading HIV. Scare tactics etc etc.

Extreme left will say these people need help and we should treat them like humans etc etc.


How about we let them in with tight restrictions get them their treatment and take it from there.

Originally Posted by jason_jinx

This could go two ways.

Extreme right will say that this is a threat and these people will start spreading HIV. Scare tactics etc etc.

Extreme left will say these people need help and we should treat them like humans etc etc.


How about we let them in with tight restrictions get them their treatment and take it from there.

I agree with your observation.

More money(to fund the HIV treating) from whose pockets though?

This has to stop somewhere.

If the US wants to take care of the world, we need to first take care of our own. We have no stops on immigration as it stands, for example. Let HIV infectees in, it will be 30% of Africa, Haiti and a host of other countries where the HIV numbers are astounding because of their loose "breeding" practices that unpack their bags on US soil. Where shall we house them?

Meddling do-gooders tried to hand condoms out in several of the HIGH HIV population countries, only to be mocked.

It is sad to see people suffer, but it is us who will suffer when the realization of "no more money" to tax us out of is admitted.

Hitch

Originally Posted by jason_jinx

This could go two ways.

Extreme right will say that this is a threat and these people will start spreading HIV. Scare tactics etc etc.

Extreme left will say these people need help and we should treat them like humans etc etc.


How about we let them in with tight restrictions get them their treatment and take it from there.

Obama just keeps rockin the boat, soon that mother fuckers gonna tip over. Now, not only are we going to be paying for the people coming illegally from Mexico, we're going to be paying out our tax dollars to help Joe Blow with his HIV/AIDS. Yup, that is selfish....i look out for me and mine and it doesnt include anyone else unless i conjure it does! Obama's faith in humanity is not well placed.