WINDHOEK – The only way to reduce HIV infections is when people stop discriminating against those who are infected with the incurable virus, activists said yesterday.
Anita Isaacs, 55, who has been living with HIV for 20 years and 39-year-old Veronica Kalambi who has been living with the virus for 12 years spoke at the official commemoration of World AIDS Day in Katutura yesterday where they called for an end to HIV-related stigma.
The gathering converged under the theme “Getting to zero, zero discrimination”. The two women also asked that HIV-positive people should be included in national activities to fight against HIV/AIDS and not just when it comes to official events.
Isaacs said stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS is still prevalent in the country. She said people sometimes use words that have a bad connotationwhen talking about HIV-positive people.
She added that when key populations such as the gay, lesbians and bisexuals who are still discriminated against seek medical attention at health centres for the treatment of sexually transmitted illnesses, they are discriminated against by health workers and at times denied treatment.
Young people who were born with HIV, added Isaacs, are also discriminated against by their peers.
“We want HIV infections to get to zero. But, if we are not going to stop stigma and discrimination we are not going to get to zero,” said Isaacs.
She said people living with HIV should be included in national HIV-related activities and contributions because they have first-hand insight of living with the disease.
“The best weapon to fight HIV/AIDS is to change our behaviour, accept people living with HIV and work with them in our prevention strategies,” said Kalambi.
Special Adviser to the Minister of Health and Social Services (Dr Richard Kamwi), Advocate Bience Gawanas said in a statement that she read on Kamwi’s behalf that the ministry’s efforts and programmes to fight HIV/AIDS are yielding results. However, she added it is time to review its strategies.
“The involvement of all public and private sectors, regions, civil society and religious organisations, people living with HIV, in collaboration with our development partners becomes critical to ensure equitable availability, access and utilisation of HIV/AIDS services by all people who need such services,” said Gawanas.
Also speaking at the occasion was American Ambassador to Namibia, Thomas Daughton. He said the United States of America has invested more than US$1 billion in Namibia since the country’s independence. He added that Namibia is reaping the benefits of that investment.
“People can now get treated for AIDS and live long productive lives. Mothers living with HIV can give birth to healthy babies. Namibia stands on the brink of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, promising that we may see in our lifetime the first AIDS-free generation,” said Daughton.
By Alvine Kapitako