MoH pushes for zero stigma against HIV-positive persons

The Ministry of Health seeks to achieve zero discrimination of HIV-positive persons by 2020, officials have said. Health officials, who were speaking as the nation marked Anti-HIV Stigma Day in Kigali, yesterday, said, over the past five years, stigma has reduced by 15 per cent although manifestations increasingly take various shapes. Dr Ribarakare Mpundu, the in-charge of care and treatment at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, said that, despite the reduction, HIV-positve persons still face discrimination mostly at hospitals, schools, among other areas. “We have seen cases of people feeling ashamed of seeking proper treatments at health facilities in their neighborhood to avoid stigma. There are cases of children who are discriminated against at school by their own teachers and all this shows that more work still needs to be done,” Mpundu said. Dr Mpundu noted that between 2010 and 2015 about 50 cases of people living with HIV reported to have faced stigma. “Stigma manifested most among men; this is one of the barriers in combating the virus,” she added. Latest statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate HIV prevalence stands at 3.1 per cent in the country. At least 10,000 people are infected with the virus every year. About 80,200 infected people are on anti-retroviral drugs, the ministry statistics add. The Ministry of Health says 81 per cent of the HIV-positive persons have been responding positively to treatment extended to them through various channels. “We believe that if all the infected people would follow guidance and take their treatment seriously, no one would be dying of AIDS,” said Dr Mpundu. Representatives of the Rwanda Network of People living with HIV, better known as (RRP+) have, on the other hand, commended government support in the provision of timely and free medical services for HIV-positive persons. “The Government has helped in reducing HIV stigma by providing testing and treatment intervention, but more research in relation to how stigma can be reduced further is needed,” said Sylvie Muneza, the chairperson of RRP+. According to Muneza, stigma and discrimination are associated with lower uptake of preventive services, including testing and counselling. In July, last year, the Government launched the ‘Treat All’ programme aiming at putting on treatment whoever tests HIV positive. The programme seeks to end any form of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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MoH pushes for zero stigma against HIV-positive persons