“Here, I can live.”
I come from Eritrea and have been living in Switzerland for 13 years. More than ten years ago, I learned that I live with HIV. At the time, I was so weak that I collapsed at home. I felt ill and went to Uster Hospital (Zurich). At first, the doctors did not find anything, but there was a suspicion and I took an HIV test. It came back positive.
Selamawit from Eritrea*
I already knew about HIV in Eritrea. There, it is called the “bad disease.” My husband, who worked as a driver, probably died from the late effects of AIDS. He was never tested, but for me it was clear. He died in the year 2000. At that time, there were no effective medications in Eritrea. People simply waited for death. I myself probably lived for about ten years without treatment before receiving my diagnosis.
Today, everything is different. I take my medication regularly and go for check‑ups every three months. My viral load is suppressed. My doctor tells me that I could even have a child without any risk of transmission, if I wanted to. This shows how much treatment has improved.
I informed my children about my HIV status when it became necessary for them to be tested as well. They all live without HIV. I do not talk about my HIV with anyone—except my doctor and my pastor. I told my pastor during a ceremony in which everyone drank from the same cup. Of course, I know that HIV cannot be transmitted in this way. Still, it was important for me to discuss with the pastor whether I could take part in the ceremony. His consent made me feel free.
In my community, I never talk about HIV. I attend many weddings, baptisms and birthdays, but I keep my HIV status to myself because I do not want to be excluded or isolated.
Access to medical care in Switzerland has always been good. In the hospital, there are interpreters; I did not need help from my children. The difference compared to Eritrea is enormous: there were no medications there, no hope. Here, I can live.
What do I wish for? More opportunities for exchange among people affected. Many keep everything to themselves, and that makes people ill. Being able to talk would be a great help. And better information—not only for those affected, but also for the community. There is a lot of mistrust toward medication. Yet medication is the key to a good quality of life.
My message to other migrants living with HIV: accept the situation and follow the treatment. Today, HIV is treatable. The greatest challenge is not the infection itself—it is the stress and mental burden caused by stigma. If we can overcome that, we can all live well.
* Name changed.
Portrait based on an interview conducted by Marlon Gattiker (Swiss AIDS Federation). Special thanks to Tesfalem Ghebreghiorghis (Prevention and Migration, Sexual Health Zurich) for organising the interview and providing interpretation. We also thank the HIV/AIDS Chaplaincy for kindly making the premises available.