Why do governments continue to restrict travel?
Índice del artículo
- Travel Restrictions
- What are travel restrictions?
- Impacts
- Reasons for travel restrictions
- Task team on travel restrictions
- Restricted from travel: Personal accounts
Countries that continue to restrict or ban HIV positive people from their borders often have a host or reasons including the perceived threat to public health and a hope to avoid costs in providing people with care, support and treatment of people living with HIV. But these restrictions have no public health justification. Although HIV is an infectious disease, it can not be transmitted through casual contact. In fact, the restrictions may actually hamper public health because they makes individuals less likely want to be tested or reveal their status for fear of being kicked out of the country.
Similarly, the argument for economic protection is not viable. Due to the expansion and sustained fall of costs to treatment in low-middle income countries the economic impact of treatment is not longer heavy. Further, people living with HIV living long and productive lives and their contributions far outweigh any strain on health resources.