Stigma stands stubborn after 40 years of HIV

First line: The primary defence remains to get tested, know your status and get on treatment PIC: CUMBRIACRACK.COM
First line: The primary defence remains to get tested, know your status and get on treatment PIC: CUMBRIACRACK.COM

Forty years after the first case of HIV was confirmed in the country, those living with the disease still report stigma and high levels of internal guilt. Stubborn discrimination and self-blame are proving beyond the scope of the treatments available. MBONGENI MGUNI & NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE

“After I delivered the baby at the hospital, no one wanted to touch her, I was the one who was doing everything by myself even though there were older people at the house.

“I realised that people were stigmatising me. They helped me with nothing and I even ended up giving up a lot!

Editor's Comment
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

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