HIV/AIDS stigma still high in Dikgonnye

Speaking at the annual candlelight commemoration to remember those who died from HIV/AIDS, Kgosi Rakgati said stigmatisation had become a big problem in his area and needed to be addressed. “Education on the disease has been extensive in the past years, but I still fail to understand why people are still struggling to accept each other and to fight and win the war on HIV/AIDS,” he said. He explained that stigmatisation was even affecting relationships. “We deal a lot with cases of couples that fight, accusing each other of bringing HIV to the relationship. Little do such people realise they are self-stigmatising. Self-stigmatisation is a problem and we should all fight it,” he said.

Meanwhile three residents living with HIV urged the residents to test and know their status well in time so they can take better care of themselves. Bopa Rankopong who has been living with HIV since 2006 said all that a doubting Thomas needed to do was look at her and see what good testing and knowing her status had done for her.