“I remain silent out of fear of stigma.”
I come from Eritrea and have been living in Switzerland since 2010. For several years now, I have been dependent on disability insurance (IV), as I have undergone three liver surgeries—complications that are also linked to my HIV infection. I live alone and will soon have to undergo another operation. I take my medication regularly, even though my everyday life is strongly marked by stress.
Salomon from Eritrea*
In 2015, I got tested. The trigger was my daughter: she was ill and then discovered that she was living with HIV. After that, I also got tested, and the result was positive. Today, my daughter is doing well and takes her medication reliably. My son does not live with HIV.
Receiving my own diagnosis was a shock. At the time, I went to an HIV counselling service, where I received a great deal of support. To this day, I talk about my HIV with very few people: the counsellors at that service, my family, and two friends—one of whom also lives with HIV. In the Eritrean community, I remain silent out of fear of stigma. I am afraid of rumours and that this would affect not only me, but also my children.
Access to medical care in Switzerland has always been good for me. My daughter and I were able to start treatment immediately. I did not encounter any language barriers: at the beginning, I was accompanied by an interpreter, and later I was able to manage everything independently. The difference compared to Eritrea is enormous. There, many people die because they do not receive effective treatment. Here, I receive the medication I need.
Despite this, HIV strongly affects my daily life. When I attend gatherings or celebrations, I am always afraid that someone might find out about my status. The stress also affects my motivation to work or to start something new. Often, I have to remind myself that I am healthy and that I must keep moving forward—distraction helps. My friend, who also lives with HIV, encourages me regularly. He tells me: “There are far worse health problems—you can live a normal life.”
What do I wish for? That newly arrived migrants accept that they are living with HIV and understand how important treatment is. We should be grateful to have access to high‑quality healthcare. Support from organisations such as Sexual Health Zurich is essential—without them, the situation would have been very difficult at the time. For many people affected, more opportunities for exchange and counselling would be helpful.
To others who are newly arriving in Switzerland, I say: “Protect yourselves and get tested. And if you live with HIV: take your medication and give yourselves a chance.” Today, HIV is treatable. Stigma is often harder to bear than the illness itself.