Combatting HIV & AIDS stigma and discrimination

HIV&AIDS stigma and discrimination, in essence, is a challenge to one’s humanity. It exemplifies that a stigmatized person is one whose social identity or membership in some social category, calls into question his or her full humanity. It also interferes with attempts to fight the AIDS epidemic as a whole.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon says "Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it. It is one of the main reasons why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world"

A country’s laws, rules and policies regarding HIV&AIDS can have a significant effect on the lives of people living with HIV&AIDS. Discriminatory practices can alienate, ostracize and also reinforce the stigma surrounding the disease. Even governments too actively discriminate against people or communities with (or suspected of having) HIV&AIDS.

Some examples include: restricting people with HIV & AIDS from entering the country, Compulsory testing and the Deportation of expatriates

Stigmatization exists everywhere and can affect anyone. Even in your very own communities, these behavioral patterns exist. Community level stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV&AIDS is found all over the world. A community’s reaction to somebody living with HIV&AIDS can have a huge effect on that person’s life.

Community-level stigma and discrimination can be manifested in different forms such as rejection, verbal and physical abuse. In extreme circumstances it has been extended to acts of violence and murder.For example, in December 1998, Gugu Dhlamini was stoned and beaten to death by neighbours in her township near Durban, South Africa, after speaking openly on World AIDS Day about her HIV status.

The way forward: We can fight stigma. Enlightened laws and policies are the key. But it begins with openness. Our institutions should teach respect and understanding. The media should condemn prejudice and use its influence to advance social change in every ambit.

However, no policy or law on its own can effectively combat HIV&AIDS related discrimination on its own. The fear and prejudice that lie at the core of the HIV&AIDS discrimination need to be tackled at the Government, community and employment levels. A more enabling environment needs to be created to increase the visibility of people with HIV&AIDS as a 'normal' part of any society.

the onus is on us to reverse the trend of this dogma and to be more conscientious of its adverse impacts on the lives of our peoples. It starts with us.