Interview 26  

Interview 26

Age at Interview: 35
Sex: Female
Age at Diagnosis: 33
Background: A 35 year old woman who came to the UK 3 years ago. She found out she was HIV positive in 2003, and her visa to stay has now expired.

Brief outline:Her medication (lamivudine, efavirenz and ddI) brought her viral load down to undetectable, but she has had some side effects like loss of memory, tiredness and nightmares. She does get depressed at times, but has a faith that God is helping her. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

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She is scared and feels trapped without work or benefits while her immigration matters are sorted out. (Read by an actor.)

 



And I'm really, really, real, really scared because, if anything, if I'm sent back home, I'm just sent back home to die. I don't know if my application will be considered, and new laws keep changing, new things keep changing, and say the Home Office say no, I'd have to go back, there is medication in your country, there is that. 

And another thing, I overstayed my visa. And there was a time I was destitute, I didn't have anywhere to stay. I went to the social service in the area I live, and they said I'm over age.

Well what I, what I find out is… like I keep telling all these support groups, if you're, if you are HIV positive, no matter what your status is, if you have children, they give… there is consideration for people with children, than you be single. That is what I just find out. And they keep saying it's not... but that is the truth. If I have a children, and I'm HIV positive, I would have been able to get something.

And why, and why can't you get any benefits?

Because I go and they told me that… They keep telling me oh yeah, there, there… and I'm fed up with it. I don't have social service… I don't get anything. I'm not bothered about that, I don't want to live on the… apart from the medication, I don't want to live on charity. I don't I… and as the system is... formerly like two years ago, if you're HIV positive Home Office, if you're OK… if you're able to work, they will give you a permit to work. But as it is now, what they are saying is… if you are healthy enough to work, then you can go back to your country of origin and work and pay for your medication. So it's two edged sword.

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