Policymakers, Others Sensitised on Stigma and Discrimination

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Fatou Jallow and Gibbi Sallah

19 May 2011

The National Aids Secretariat (NAS) yesterday held a one-day sensitisation programme for policymakers, religious and community leaders on stigma and discrimination, at the National Malaria Control Programme office in Kanifing.

Delivering the opening remarks, Alieu Jammeh, the director of NAS, described stigma as a process of harming the character of a person in the eyes of others, adding that it occurs when somebody labels another person and sets them apart as unwanted. Aids-related stigma and discrimination, he said, is prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS. He explained that the infected persons can result in being shunned by family, peers and the wider community; poor treatment in health and education settings; and can negatively affect the success of testing and treatment.

Jammeh further noted that HIV- related stigma is caused by silence, rejection and isolation which limit the ability of people living with the virus. He went on to explain that it causes stress and leads to discrimination and all its harmful results. According to him, many people do not have correct information about the virus and how it is transmitted, and is often incorrectly linked with behaviours that are considered shameful. “HIV infection is often thought to be the result of personal irresponsibility and religious or moral beliefs that deserve to be punished,” Jammeh explained.

He disclosed that stigma do often make one feel loss of self-esteem, depression, guilt or blaming oneself, thoughts and feelings of wanting to end one’s life, harmful behaviour to oneself and others, delay or avoiding seeking treatment for fear of being identified as HIV positive, which are all detrimental to their national programme. “Infected persons are given separated utensils, not allowing them to interact with others by hiding them, refusing to employ or train them and other social related issues because of their status,” he further stated.

He called for concerted efforts to overcome stigma and discrimination by being more accepting of people living with HIV and provide correct information to educated people about how HIV is transmitted; strengthen counselling to help people deal with their fear about the virus; promote greater involvement of people living with aids, among others. “Stigma does not only makes it more difficult for people trying to come to terms with HIV and manage their illness on a personal level, but it also interferes with attempts to fight the AIDS epidemic as a whole. On a national level, the stigma associated with HIV can deter governments from taking fast, effective actions against the epidemic. Whilst on a personal level it can make individuals reluctant to access HIV testing treatment and care,” he concluded.

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