FACE TO FACE WITH HIV STIGMA
Vocal HIV activist, also founder of Thusang Bana Center, Stanly Monageng (73) has been living with HIV for 22 years. He recalls experiencing the most painful stigma because he found out when he was diagnosed with full blown AIDS. He could not do anything for himself at the time, however, after enrolling for treatment his health quickly stabilised.
“Friends and some family members stigmatised me so badly. I remember my own brother telling me that I was going to die before the end of the year, and that they would wrap me in a cowhide. That really hurt me,” he remembers.
Although it didn’t take him long to accept his status, it was not easy, but eventually the support from his family helped him deal with his condition.
“At first, people would throw away the utensils that I had used and my daughter was also bullied at school because of my status.”
In 2005, Monageng went public about his status because he felt that it was high time people accepted people living with HIV and supported them.
He printed a T-shirt inscribed with the words, ‘I am better my father knows his HIV status your father doesn’t know his,’ for his daughter.
He emphasised that illness and death due to HIV can be avoided if people accept their status and undergo treatment, adding that he is a living example, as he is healthy and takes his treatment accordingly.
Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) is also worried about the stigma and discrimination that surrounds HIV/AIDS, after many years of battling the scourge in Botswana.
Botswana was the first country in the region to provide universal free antiretroviral treatment (ART) to people living with HIV during former president Festus Mogae’s leadership. This paved the way for many other countries in the region to follow suit.
Several campaigns were undertaken within communities, in order for people to learn about HIV/AIDS and end the stigma around it. After the introduction of the treatment programme, there has been a significant decrease in infections, from 18 000 in 2005, to 10 000 in 2010, and down to 8,500 in 2018, according to statistics.
‘AIDS-related deaths have also drastically decreased from a peak of 18 000 recorded in 2002 to 4 800 in 2018’, according to the report. While this is a significant milestone for Botswana, Programmes Coordinator at BONELA, Katlego Sechele says people should accept that HIV has become a part of our lives and should learn to live with it. In addition, those that need services need to seek help.
“We offer free Legal services for rights violations or human rights abuses. We also offer psychosocial support and counselling, therefore we urge people to utilise these services.”
BONELA’s view is that though disclosure is legal in Botswana, it has lethal potential to stir up stigma and discrimination not only on the victim but also the victim’s loved ones, and this may lead to suicide, cyber-bullying, emotional distress, and depression.
“That notwithstanding, disclosure, has potential to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS by way of normalising HIV/AIDS as a health condition like any other.
“Public figures, influencers, and celebrities may choose to disclose their HIV status with the view to address the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and this should be celebrated and encouraged,” Sechele said.
This view is echoed by HIV Activist, Bonosi Segadimo who bemoans that HIV/ AIDS stigma imprisons people living with the virus in a state of denial.