September 2017

Sep 18, 2017

HIV is still a stigma

Dear aidsfocus readers,

We cannot emphasise it often enough: stigma and discrimination are two of the chief reasons why the first ‘90’ in the UNAIDS strategy’s 90-90-90 targets is in danger of not being achieved.

UNAIDS is urging swift action to end AIDS by 2030. The first milestone: by 2020, 90 percent of all infected people should know their HIV-status, 90 percent of those diagnosed should have access to treatment, and in 90 percent of those in treatment the virus should no longer be detectable. Fear about getting tested and the potential consequences, such as having to take medication for the rest of one’s life and at the same time being discriminated against by one’s community, are still very widespread and are preventing people from taking the all-important test.

In an interview, George Ojamuge from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Uganda takes a clear stance on reaching the UNAIDS targets: everyone must take responsibility in the fight against the virus and tackle stigmatisation!

And this also includes the church: pastor Phumzile Mabizela is director of the INERELA+ organisation, a network of religious leaders in South Africa. She herself has been HIV-positive for 17 years and focuses on educating specifically the church and its congregations about HIV/AIDS. This is her mission. She is taking decisive action against stigma and discrimination inside the church and religious communities. She considers it vital that sexuality is openly discussed and that this subject is not made taboo. In her work she consistently encounters opposition. The church is far from reaching the point of accepting HIV as a disease, recognising the transmission routes and hence supporting and implementing the necessary interventions.

You can find this fascinating interview with Phumzile Mabizela on African Mirror at the following link.

And you can read important extracts from the interview with Phumzile Mabizela here.

Carine Weiss

Coordinator, aidsfocus.ch

Project Leader, Medicus Mundi Switzerland

cweiss@medicusmundi.ch