Baharin: Passport mystery of HIV affected Indian worker

[Guest guest]

Passport mystery of HIV worker

By EUNICE del ROSARIO

A LABOURER infected with HIV may need to wait a little longer before he is sent

home to India. Without a passport or a CPR card, Indian Embassy officials say

they cannot start processing Muthanna Poshanna's emergency travel documents

without any proof of nationality.

But they hope to still be able to send him home to Andhra Pradesh, as soon as

they receive the necessary documentation they have requested from India.

As per Bahrain's rule, non-Bahrainis with HIV must immediately leave the

country.

Surya Charitable and Cultural Association (SCCA) general secretary and Indian

Community Relief Fund (ICRF) treasurer K R Nair met with immigration authorities

earlier this week to determine exactly when Mr Poshanna came to Bahrain.

The patient, who is currently being cared for at the Salmaniya Medical Complex

(SMC), claims to have arrived in Bahrain on a free visa in 1991.

He added that his Bahraini sponsor had taken his passport away and left him to

find work.

" We tried searching for the sponsor, but we were unsuccessful, " said Mr Nair.

" Unfortunately, immigration authorities also say that Mr Poshanna's name is not

recorded there.

" This could be because of a number of reasons, maybe his name was misspelled or

that he travelled to Bahrain using another name.

" With no CPR card or passport number, we can only go by what name he has given

us. "

He confirmed that embassy officials have already sent a letter to the chief

minister of Andhra Pradesh, where Mr Poshanna says he is from.

They are also hoping that his family will be able to send documents to Bahrain.

" The letter was sent to the chief minister asking for assistance to tell us if

Mr Poshanna is indeed from there and if he is if they could send us any official

documentation, " said Mr Nair.

" We are also trying to get in touch with his family in India. Maybe they might

have some of his papers (such as a birth certificate) with them. "

Embassy officials are hoping for an answer by next week.

Mr Poshanna, who is unaware he has the virus that causes Aids, say he hopes to

be reunited with his family whom he has not seen in over 15 years.

He was unable to get home to see his wife, who died of cancer three months ago.

His three children have grown up without him.

It is not known how Mr Poshanna acquired the HIV virus.

Embassy officials, volunteer visitors and SMC staff have tried explaining what

the virus is, but say he cannot fully grasp when it means.

The embassy is trying to send him home to Andhra Pradesh as soon as possible,

under the rule that any expatriate found with HIV must leave Bahrain

immediately.

The 46-year-old patient also suffers from Tuberculosis (TB), which was

discovered along with the HIV, when friends took him to the SMC on February 1,

when he fell so ill he was unable to move.

Mr Poshanna has shown signs of improvement, said Mr Nair.

" He is now able to move, talk and eat properly.

" With continuous medication he can still lead a good life.

" Unfortunately, he does not understand the nature of his disease, so he has no

idea how he got this virus or when. "

Doctors also confirmed that Mr Poshanna was now fit enough to travel back to

India, as long as he is escorted throughout the flight.

Donors who read the patient's plight in the GDN have come forward and donated

funds, including two air tickets to India for Mr Poshanna and an escort, said Mr

Nair.

" Everything is actually ready. All we need is the travel document, but we cannot

start processing that unless we have documentation that he is indeed Indian. "

Donations are being accepted for Mr Poshanna by contacting Mr Nair on 39652009.

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