The Netherlands. African migrants face discrimination, mandatory testing

Migration, the movement of a person from one area to another in order to settle, is as old as humanity itself. Migration includes people travelling in search of jobs as well as those running away from their home countries , fleeing persecution because of their beliefs, political activism, or wars. In addition, family reunification has, in this century, become a reason for migration.

International migration, the displacement of people across country borders, has become a hotly debated issue in many parts of the world. Even areas which practiced liberal migration policies in the past are today taking steps to tighten controls. Governments now see the regulation of migration as an essential element of their sovereignty. Although international migration cannot be the main source of the world’s economic and political problems, it is a valuable resource that should be carefully managed? especially in the area of HIV/AIDS. In the Netherlands, for example, the forces of xenophobia and racism have led to very tight regulations against migrants entering the country.

These forces continue to play an important role in the migration patterns in The Netherlands. More than 50 000, people migrate into the Netherlands every year. The number of Africans entering into the Netherlands is uncertain but unofflcial estimates are that about 1000 enter the country every year. The persons migrating into the Netherlands could be categorised into three groups: those coming for family reunification, refugees (economic and war refugees), and third, those who arrive in Netherlands unnoticed and therefore are not registered.

Within these categories of migrants in the Netherlands, HIV is a significant problem. From approximately 252 heterosexuals diagnosed to be HIV+ between 1982-1993, 26 % were found to be from HIV endemic areas. AFAPAC’s own research indicates that the number of Africans infected with HIV is on the increase.

Migrants (Africans) coming to The Netherlands

The AIDS problem and migrants from Africa have been merged, heightening pre-existing stigma against Africans in Europe. The result is that asylum seekers from Africa have very little prospect of being granted political asylum. The spread of AIDS in The Netherlands could result in other forms of discrimination against the migrant community, especially asylum seekers.

According to some refugees, the strong policy on paper against mandatory testing is often ignored. Some report having been tested without their formal consent. This implies that no pre-couselling is offered. One consequence of such indiscriminate testing is that most asylum seekers refuse to go the hospital when they are sick. They are also afraid to go for HIV testing for fear that they would be deported. Rumor has it that asylum requests by HIV positive persons are easily rejected.

Africans discovering that they are HIV+

African asylum seekers with HIV /AIDS in the Netherlands face the same horrible living conditions as do other asylum seekers. Their psychosocial health deteriorates everyday. AFAPAC continues to reach these people, but is unable to meet the housing needs of these persons, an amenity essential for effective psychosocial care.

Africans from sub-Saharan African who live in The Netherlands still face discrimination with respect to HIV infection. The policy of the Dutch Blood bank is that persons from Africa and especially from sub-Saharan Africa should not donate blood. People who have had contact from persons from this area should also be forbidden from donating blood. AFAPAC has had meetings with the director of this institute in order to air out this discriminatory policy but until now no action has been taken.

Non-registered (illegal) migrants

In the Netherlands, health care is becoming a problem for illegal migrants. Illegal migrants are unable to seek for health care because most of the health institutions can only care for persons officially registered as residents. This situation discourages African migrants who have had risky sexual contacts from getting tested for HIV because they do not have money to pay and are afraid of arrested and/or deportation. If nothing is done, this group of people shall remain a social hazard for the community as far as health care is concerned. M

Dr K.A. Adanse-Pipim is the director of the African Foundation for AIDS prevention and counseling (AFAPAC), based in Amsterdam. Stichting AFAPAC, Daalwijk 29, 1102 AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 600 3454. Fax: +31 20 600 6269.