It is widely believed that discrimination against People with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA)
is a thing of the past. Sadly, discrimination and stigma still exist in
this world and the two continue to menace People who are HIV positive.
This explains the reason why the majority of people who are HIV positive do not
disclose their status.
People should know that discrimination against
people who are HIV positive is entirely wrong and not acceptable.
Discrimination and stigma of any kind hurts so bad and the two only bring
disastrous results.
If
all HIV positive individuals are to hide their status, the pandemic will
definitely be spreading undercover. Not everyone can stand up against
discrimination and stigma.
What
people who are HIV positive need are good medical and health care systems,
emotional support and many other needs but discrimination and stigma are not on
the list. Those that are stigmatized become silent and once they are silent
there is no way they can get their needs like good medical and health care. In
such a scenario, a person cannot live longer with the virus.
I
strongly believe that sometimes a society that perpetuates stigma and discriminatory
tendencies against HIV positive people cannot in any way develop. Discrimination
negatively affects each and every sector in a society.
By
virtue of being a Human Immune Virus it means it
is found only in human beings and any human being can be
infected. Thus, teachers, doctors, civil rights activist, business persons and
any other human being can contract the virus if the person is exposed to the
virus. There are several ways in which the virus is transmitted. This again is
one important point that many people in the society tend to forget.
In addition, discrimination and
stigma prevents people from getting tested. The two aforementioned vices bring
about a certain kind of fear so much that people do not even wish to know their
HIV status. This is why a lot people are
losing their lives despite the fact that there are antiretroviral drugs
available in hospitals and pharmacies.
It is very sad to note that a lot of people who are living with HIV around
the world are stigmatized and discriminated against. Many have lost their
relationships, families, jobs and employment opportunities as a result of
discrimination. Some feel their reputation has been damaged and
many others continuously feel insecure or unsafe as a result of stigma and discrimination.
Stigma does not
only make it more difficult for people to come to terms with their HIV status,
it also interferes with the attempts to fight the pandemic as well.
Ending HIV stigma and discrimination
is of paramount importance and it is good to highlight the negative effects
that come along with stigma and discrimination.
HIV positive people are just like
everyone else they need love, care and support. So let us please provide them
with the necessities they may need in whatever way we can!
While spreading true facts about HIV
is the easiest way to make a big impact against HIV stigma, another way to
fight this condition is for HIV-positive people to come out to the open and
show that people with HIV today live with
the virus, and that there is so much more in their life that can help to
development their designated communities.
5 comments:
alot of lives have been affected because of discrimination.lets indeed stop this and create a discrimination free world.
some times they isolate them selves from the community.dont you think its them who start stigma and discrimination?.
sithembile not all of them isolate themselves,to be honest its our altitudes towards them that makes these people to isolate them selves.we should be honest here alot of HIV patients have died because of our un welcome behaviors.
It is a fact that everyone has either been infected or affected by HIV. Indeed issues of stigma and discrimination are still evident within communities and has continuous derailed all the efforts towards the mitigation of HIV since the early 1980s when it was confirmed that there were people living with HIV.
In most instances, the stigma and discrimination is fueled by lack of information about the virus or the conviction that it cant happen to me. This has influenced people to be reluctant to go for an HIV test or even disclosing their HIV status to friends, family members and more so their spouses and partners.
Time has come for everyone to take the initiative and make conscious decision to fight stigma and discrimination. Lets take heed that a simple remark and gesture can make a difference
i support your point Hughes,thats so true.
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