December 1 is HIV day with the spotlight cast on an epidemic that is worsening despite revolutionary advances. Despite worldwide focus and better understanding of this disease and support for those who suffer, a Greek human rights advocacy group known as Act Up suggests that a Greek Corporal was dismissed from the country’s Armed Forces due to new legislation that calls for the immediate dismissal of Greek soldiers that are found to be HIV+.

The dismissal can be considered a medieval move bearing in mind that HIV is now regarded as a treatable disease with medicines available to slow the growth of the virus or stop it from reproducing itself. These drugs may not eliminate the virus, but they keep the viral load at a low level.

Despite this, the Greek law stipulates that it is not possible for a professional soldier to respond to their duties when they have HIV. Hence, the corporal that has been dismissed was described as suffering from a refractory sickness, thus not yielding to treatment.

The legislation that allows this is considered by human rights groups such as Act Up to be discriminating.