Today-1st December 2023marks the annual observance of World AIDS Day, under the theme ‘Let communities lead’ this time around. Health professionals around the globe make it known that with the advance of modern medicine, being infected with the sexually transmitted virus is no longer a death sentence compared to the years gone by.
Equally though, they also caution within the same breath that this does not mean that individuals can go about being carefree about their status and prance around in a promiscuous fashion. Here in St. Kitts-Nevis, there are 225 recorded with the HIV infection.
As most of us would know, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. In various societies on a global scale, persons infected with the virus are discriminated against for being ‘dirty’ due to that kind of stigma label. Educational campaigns over the years have been heavily aimed at helping to remove such stigma.
In many instances, it has been explained to the listening and viewing public that one cannot transmit the virus by hugging someone who is infected. The takeaway from such a message is that as humans we must show love to each other and not scorn those whose status is positive for the virus.
Most recently, on 21st July 2023 saw a new global campaign to end HIV stigma dubbed #ZeroHIVStigmaDay as spearheaded by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) in collaboration with
partners. As gleaned from media communication sourced via www.iapac.org, that Zero HIV Stigma Day is a new international HIV awareness day. As gleaned from the media communication, the aim of such a day is geared towards uniting people, communities, and entire countries to raise awareness about and take action to end HIV-related stigma that both violates human rights and jeopardizes efforts to end the global HIV epidemic.
As explained, the chosen theme “Human First,” emphasizes the human dimension of people living with and affected by HIV and reinforces that any form of stigma encountered by people living with HIV is a human rights violation. Truth be told, no one would ever want to feel shamed by anyone for their health status.
If no one is aware of another’s status then they are treated “normally” and on the flip side brings about the opposite. This is quite unfortunate and inhumane. At the same time, everyone has a responsibility to practice safe sexual behaviour and know his or her status in order to take care of his or her well-being.
As communities, we must lead with empathy and care for each other in ending the stigma.
