Many HIV infected patients, apart from suffering the social neglect and being unwanted even by near and dear ones have this major handicap - they
Many HIV infected patients, apart from suffering the social neglect and being unwanted even by near and dear ones have this major handicap - they just can’t travel like the other people - wherever they want and whenever they want. Some people just avoid having HIV infected co passengers. Others are just indifferent. Leaving the ethical issues aside, it is very difficult for these victims to travel because of, many reasons. Primarily the physicians of these patients do not encourage them to travel. Other reasons are that the travel agencies themselves politely rebuff them when they come to know that their passenger is HIV positive. These incidents not only scar these victims emotionally but also make them bitter and defensive.
However it is now being accepted that HIV afflicted patients can safely travel abroad after informing their physicians and after taking a few precautions. This way they can start living a near normal life and initiate a process of getting on with their lives.However before traveling they need to make sure that they don’t travel immediately after their antiretroviral therapy and that they don’t manifest any side effects of the same. Also they need to be counseled before they travel and most importantly they can travel only if their physicians tell them that their immune status is good. Otherwise they would be exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.
Lastly it is also advisable to ascertain the availability of expert medical facilities at their destinations before undertaking the travel.
