Stigma and discrimination are major obstacles to reduction of HIV/AIDS, says CAREC advisor
Monday, May 30, 2005
THE VALLEY, Anguilla: Communication Advisor
at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) Special Program on Sexually
Transmitted Infections, Ms Sheryl O’Neil, has stated that stigma and
discrimination have been identified by public authorities as the major
obstacle to the reduction of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
“What we have been looking at is to understand how stigma and discrimination
are fuelling the epidemic and today we will be looking at ways in which we can
reduce stigma and discrimination in Anguilla. One of the major things about
stigma and discrimination is that it keeps people away from going forward with
testing, accessing care, treatment and support.”
According to Ms O’Neil the stigma and discrimination also keeps people away
from engaging in prevention programmes and from providing support for people
who have been diagnosed with HIV. “At the
level of the Government, when people are kept away from treatment and testing
programmes, the Government is unable to get a proper handle on the burden of
the epidemic in their country and therefore they are unable to plan properly
for allocation of resources and for programmes and preventions to deal with
the epidemic,” Ms O’Neil said. O’Neil stated
that one of the things that came out of the recently held workshop on stigma
and discrimination in Anguilla is that stigma and discrimination are very
subtle here. She said that it has been reported by persons living with
HIV/AIDS in Anguilla that people have been very supportive but other
participants have said that “behind them there are a lot of whispers.”
The CAREC official pointed out that stigma has been defined as the negative
attitude towards someone whose lifestyle disagrees with others while
discrimination is the act or behaviour that is triggered by attitude towards
other people.
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