The National AIDS Committee has greeted US President Barack Obama’s decision to remove all restrictions on people infected with HIV from visiting the United States.

In a press release, the NAC said it along with other members and organisations worldwide petitioned over the years “for this unjust restriction to be removed.”

In removing the ban Obama referred to the original decision as having been “rooted in fear rather than in fact.” He also said “if we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it.” The US president said in keeping with this his administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year.

According to the release, in 2007 a delegation from the NAC met with the American Ambassador to query HIV testing taking place in the Embassy compound of persons applying for US visas. The NAC was assured at the time that the rapid-testing at the Embassy did not relate to any misguided goal of only accepting HIV free immigrants. The NAC was hopeful that the leadership demonstrated by the US government on the issue would encourage the remaining countries which have retained similar restrictions to remove them quickly.

The NAC said in addition to respecting the rights to those directly affected, namely HIV-positive persons wishing to visit the US, Obama’s decision will also help to eradicate the stigma and discrimination against persons who are HIV positive and enable greater tolerance and respect  for difference.