HEALTH ARTICLE: Stigmatization of HIV positive individuals still a challenge..!!

Have you ever asked yourself these questions.... How would you react if someone told you they were HIV positive? Would you treat them the same as any other person? Would you still hug them without thinking twice? Would you still share the same bed with them, Or would you suddenly feel as though you needed to keep your distance from said person, in case you caught their 'impurity'?

Stigmatization still remains a huge challenge in the fight against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. PLWHA(people living with HIV/AIDS) are stigmatized a lot and this has encouraged AIDS to remain a SILENT KILLER because people are scared to even talk about it or take easily available precautions to prevent being infected.

It sounds harsh, but unfortunately a negative stigma has developed around HIV that causes many people to react with fear towards anyone who tests positive. Consequently many HIV postive people prefare to remain quiet about their status.

You won't believe that some countries(about 42 of them) have placed rules that isolate people living with HIV/AIDS. Some countries even prevent PLWHA to visit, live or work there. It is that bad!!!

'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, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world' says Ban Kimoon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Many campaigns aim to put an end to these sentiments of unnecessary negativity and create a society in which those affected by HIV can live without being judged and ridiculed, but rather given the support they need. However, it still remains an individual decision... CAN YOU STOP STIGMATIZING THAT HIV infected person?

The truth still remains that if people realised that it is something anyone
could get and understood more about the reality of it, some of the negative stigma might begin to fade.

You can help stop the stigmatization.... Yes.... We can!!!!

Show love to PLWHA.... Thanks

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN