Previously, infected expatriates were refused re-entry visas under the Immigration Act because they were deemed as prohibited immigrants . This resulted in the breaking up of many marriages, which received global condemnation. Following public outcry and vigorous campaigning by various support groups in Singapore, the Government announced on 27 th May last year that it would consider these cases sympathetically. The first repatriated spouse returned on 6 July 2000. While society is taking a slow but certain turn towards acceptance of HIV, awareness among the young has to be cultivated.
Magazines nowadays talk of safe sex instead of screaming no to pre-marital sex, and rightly so.
Acknowledging openly the existence of the threat is the first step towards effective education. Ignorance cannot and should not be condoned. As the musical Rent puts it, there is No day but today . All rights reserved.