The ban dealing with HIV positive visitors in Singapore softens for short-term visit, but the ban remains for long-term visitors, according to report.
Singapore has finally softens its laws and lifted a two-decade ban on HIV-infected guests from entering the country, but will limit their stay to a most of three months.
Entry is denied to HIV-positive people and foreigners diagnosed with AIDS. No HIV testing need for tourist or business visa applicants up to 30 days, according to Singapore regulations on entry for HIV/AIDS positive visitors.
According to report, many countries still have harsh laws for dealing with HIV positive visitors. There are seventeen countries on the list still have harsh laws for HIV infected guest, laws that allow officials to deport foreign tourists they suspect are HIV positive.
Russia, South Korea, Egypt, Singapore and UAE are all on the list of nations that actively remove travelers found to be carrying the disease, according to the latest UNAIDS report.
WHO and UNAIDS estimates that there are 34.2 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2011. That same year, some 2.5 million people became newly infected, and 1.7 million died of AIDS-related causes, including 230 000 children.
In Singapore, Roy Chan, the president of local voluntary group Action for Aids, said his organization welcomed the move as a step toward a greater understanding and acceptance of HIV-infected persons.
“While things have improved slightly, we cannot forget that many are still being asked to leave their jobs and are ostracized by friends and family because of HIV infection. Many still suffer alone, and have trouble securing jobs and health insurance,” said Chan.
“We need a supportive environment that does not discriminate a person because he or she is HIV infected. The repeal of the short-term entry ban is one such example of what we need to do,” he told the AP.
On Singapore Regulations on Entry, Stay and Residence for PLHIV foreign nationals with AIDS or who are HIV positive are expelled.
HIV-positive foreign spouses of Singaporeans are exempt and allowed to remain in Singapore. Entering with ARVs for personal use requires approval by authorities. Use local hospitals with caution: Singapore doctors are required to report anyone found to be HIV-positive to the authorities. Air travellers in transit in Singapore are not affected.
According to latest health ministry figures, there were 6,685 HIV-infected Singapore residents in 2014, in a population of 5.3 million, of whom 1,737 have died.
HIV-positive people are people who have the human immunodeficiency virus HIV, the agent of the now incurable disease AIDS. HIV can be transmitted through blood, pregnancy, and sexual intercourse with an infected partner. It cannot be spread by social contact. Image courtesy of Action for AIDS Singapore.