Battle against stigma won, then lost
Friday, April 03, 2015
Fiona Lekgetlho is HIV positive and committed to being a model for others in the fight against the disease’s spread in Botswana.
She is grateful for the amount of education given to Batswana about the disease over the years as it has reduced stigmatisation and discrimination against those infected. Fiona, however, says there is a new, closer type of stigmatisation.
Despite the residents’ relentless struggle and enduring fears, government has yet to provide a clear and comprehensive solution to this alarming issue. For decades, the villagers have lived under the shadow of these ominous cracks, fearing the possibility of the earth swallowing them whole. This fear is not unfounded, as the damage extends beyond psychological distress to homes, fields, and ultimately, the livelihoods of the community. The...