HIV stigma still rampant

infected with the virus stands at above 65,5 percent, with different forms of discrimination prevalent at workplaces, in families and other social spaces.

Society has various forms of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV which range from exclusion, name calling, insults, dismissal from employment and sexual rejection.

Statements such as “ane muzvezve”, “ari kujuicer”, among others, are commonly used to refer to people living with HIV, while “magoodbye” is a derogatory name used to refer to lymph nodes, one of the opportunistic infections associated with people living with HIV.

Southern African HIV and Aids Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) head of media, marketing and public relations, Mrs Tariro Makanga-Chikumbirike, said more still needs to be done to fight HIV stigma and discrimination.

“Unfortunately normalising HIV is taking longer than anticipated. People still have the fear of HIV and in some instances still equate it to the death sentence,” said Mrs Makanga-Chikumbirike.

“We still need to do more to make people understand that with the treatment advancements, HIV is now just like any other chronic illness which can be managed.”

Living with HIV in a community where morals are still attached to acquiring the virus and better still when it is viewed as a death sentence can be stressful.

An HIV activist, Ms Tendayi Kateketa, said HIV stigma has remained high in Zimbabwe because there are people still living in denial.

“Many people are still afraid of getting tested for HIV to find out their HIV status. Stigma is being fuelled in our homes, some healthcare settings, the workplaces and sections of the religious communities,” she said.

Ms Kateketa also added that wrong attitudes are stimulating stigma as HIV is still associated with promiscuity and sexual immorality.

The survey by ZNNP+ established forms of stigma as ranging from exclusion from gatherings, discrimination by partners, exclusion from family activities, dismissal or suspension from work or educational institutions, exclusion from religious activities or places of worship and sexual rejection to discrimination from among PLHIV.

Stigma and discrimination devalue people living with HIV.

According to research findings, gossip is the most prevalent form of stigma in Zimbabwe, with 51,4 percent of respondents saying that they have experienced it.

And according to respondents, gossip leads to other forms of stigma like blame and questioning of an individual’s behaviour.

A health worker in Epworth said stigma and discrimination is an issue that needs combined effort to be defeated as it entails behaviour change.

“It shows that as a people we haven’t yet triumphed over stigma when you see people living with HIV dumping containers for ARVs in the bush,” she said.

“And all these forms of discrimination are a result of the lack of knowledge that health issues are human rights guaranteed in the constitution.”

In Swaziland, the Government decided to provide medical services and ARVs from the general dispensary under one roof so that people living with HIV are not easily identified or discriminated against.

However, some people living with HIV complain against the breach of confidentiality by some medicine dispensers.

Mrs Makanga-Chikumbirike, however, feels that the level of stigma acts as a stumbling block to the fight against HIV.

“With more work, we will achieve our goal to zero stigma as its prevalence can negatively affect our target of ending Aids as people will be scared to seek for services,” she said.

“We still need to continue engaging communities, both the infected and affected.

‘‘We need to address self stigma before even going to that which is inflicted by other people. What I have witnessed is that people living with HIV who are assertive have not allowed room for anyone to stigmatise them.

“The responsibility shouldn’t be on people living with HIV only though, everyone in our country has a role to play in fighting stigma.”

Ms Kateketa is of the view that HIV is no longer a death sentence as there are many people living with HIV who are healthy and some even survive close to three decades without succumbing to Aids.

“The country can curb stigma by continuing with the prevention interventions of HIV and awareness campaigns to ensure that many people take up testing and counselling,” she said.

“Also, stigma can be reduced by supporting those who disclose their HIV statuses to the public and ensure that they become societal role models towards ending the stigma.

Zimbabwe has 1,4 million people living with HIV.