Mauritius deports Malagasy worker living with HIV after public testimony
via Le Mauricien7 min read
A 45-year-old Malagasy worker, identified as Fandja, was deported from Mauritius to Madagascar the day after her poignant testimony at the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 17. Fandja, who lives with HIV, had shared her fears of losing her job, care, stability, and dignity if her status was disclosed, and of being repatriated "like a criminal." She had been working in a nursing home for several years, sending money to her family in Madagascar. Her deportation occurred after her employer was contacted by authorities, informing them of her HIV positive status and instructing them to send her away immediately. Fandja had initially tested negative for HIV upon arrival in Mauritius, but later tested positive after a partner's infidelity. She began treatment immediately and stated her treatment was working, and she could not infect anyone. Her employer had mandated a new HIV test for all staff without consent or confidentiality guarantees, despite Mauritian laws protecting individuals living with HIV from forced testing and discrimination. Nicolas Ritter, founder of PILS, highlighted that stigmatization persists and that Mauritius's practice of deporting foreign workers based on HIV status contradicts its own HIV & AIDS Act, Equal Opportunities Act, and Workers’ Rights Act, as well as international conventions. He emphasized that a country's value is also judged by how it treats the most vulnerable. The Immigration Act 2022 and the Non-Citizens Employment Restriction A
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
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