Comment on FR Doc # E9-15814

Dear HHS/CDC, I fully support the lifting of the HIV travel and immigration ban as outlined in docket CDC-2008-0001. Health care professionals are universally in agreement over the unnecessary, even counterproductive nature of the ban, given what we know of HIV transmission. Religious as well civil rights organizations point to the flagrant discrimination and human right violations that the ban entails. Hence, lifting the ban is the right thing to do, both morally and from a health care perspective. The fear and prejudice based comments that are accompanying this debate do not reflect the values of this country, nor do they use reasoning based on facts and logic. For example, immigrants are required to show they will not become ‘public charges’ when adjusting their status. Therefore the likelihood of those immigrants ending up costing the tax payers money is dubious at best. Furthermore, other conditions that are also very expensive to treat (diabetes, obesity) are not grounds for refusal of entry. The HIV travel and immigration ban should be lifted as soon as possible. Respectfully -