Immigrants from the Middle East

According to the latest figures from 2022, there are about 24,000 people in the Netherlands infected with HIV. Every year this figure increases by about 350. A growing group among these newly infected are men and women who were not born in the Netherlands. Detailed figures are not available but it seems that a growing number of these HIV infected immigrants are men born in the Middle East.

Elie

Elie (36) was born in Beirut, Lebanon and has lived in the Netherlands for about 4 years. After testing positive for HIV in Lebanon, it was impossible for him to build a future there. He applied for and was granted asylum in the Netherlands.

Elie is happy with the big step he has taken to leave his homeland and build a future in the Netherlands. He works hard and has become an important figure in the group of those new Dutch citizens from the Middle East. Elie works at Secret Garden (and other places) to assist this group in their tempts to obtain permanent residence and find their way in the Dutch health care system. Many of his clients at Secret Garden are also HIV positive.

Elie makes no secret of his positive status and is therefore an example for many of the newcomers he meets.