Farid

I have been living in Germany for 2 years. I came here as a refugee. The escape route was long and full of fears and humiliation. I'm glad that I have it behind me, that I'm still alive.

I was able to sleep again for the first time in my accommodation - until the next shock came. We were tested - for HIV. My result was positive. Another world collapsed for me. After a lot of back and forth, I was given medication. I didn't dare talk to people about my illness because I was afraid of losing the few people I knew here. The asylum procedure dragged on. I trembled every time I received the brown envelopes from the authorities. My asylum application was rejected.

From tomorrow there will be no more HIV medication

I could only think of one thing: gone, gone, gone. I went into hiding. I didn't want to go back to a country where my life was under threat and treatment was only available on paper. I'm now living with friends in a big city, working illegally on a building site and trying to make a living. I can no longer get therapy. There are many organizations that provide medical care to undocumented people in need, but even they can't give me pills in the long term.

Here in Germany, everyone says that health is a human right. I am also a human being - shouldn't that fact be enough to be treated as a human being? Or is my HIV different? Am I worth less? Imagine you have a life-threatening illness and from tomorrow you will no longer receive treatment. How would that make you feel?