Re: Alarming health stats..
I see two separate topics here:
1) why should the british tax payer pay for HIV positive immigrants
2) how can we stop HIV coming into the country, and more importantly spreading within the country among British citizens.
Spontaneously, I would suggets HIV tests for all immigrants and people who travel to risky countries. The problem is, if they test positive, what do you do?
Regarding immigrants, you could refuse them entry to the country, as with rabid dogs, but regarding British citizens, you have to let them back in.
Of the two groups I find the latter the most offensive. The number of Europeans that go to Asia and the Far East, not to mention Easten Europe for "cheap sex" holidays is increasing and it is precisely those people that are more likely to return to Britain and spread the disease. As a naive Brit, I would be more likely to contract the disease from some white, British male that has been abroad on such antics, than from an African immigrant, who I consider risky.
The question is, why not introduce complusory HIV tests? It would be cheaper in the long run and would allow the government to control entry of infected foreigners and monitor affected Brits. Every citizen should have a HIV-free stamp on those famous ID cards that are going to be brought in..................
Sorry if it sounds like I'm jesting, I'm not - I just feel that everyone has the right to know about the HIV status of new partners, I don't feel it's enough to just educate - and statistics are beginning to show that.
ps I wanted to ask Lettie if pregnant women are automatically tested for HIV in the UK? I had to have the test when I was 8 weeks pregnant and then again at 20 weeks. I think I have to have it re-done again at 30 weeks.
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