BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Ending HIV related stigma is not only morally crucial but it is also vital for the public health and socio-economic development of the country, it has been revealed.
During a workshop on the Zimbabwe HIV Stigma Index Action Plan, it was also noted that stigma had to be eradicated if the country is to attain its targets in HIV management.
This is comes at a time when the country’s 2022 HIV stigma index stands at 69,7 percent, up from 2014’s figure of 65,5 percent.
According to UNAIDS, HIV stigma index is the standardized tool to gather evidence on how stigma and discrimination impacts the lives of people living with HIV.
Tatenda Makoni, Executive Director at ZNNP+ said as a country, it was worrisome that while the stigma index was supposed to be going down, it was actually on the rise.
Abisha Jonga, Senior Programmes Manager at Zim-TTECH, said as a clinical partner, they notice that stigma is a major barrier to various efforts to ensure that we attain not only the 95-95-95 targets but actually the 100-100-100 targets.
“But what is critical is that for us to reach those high targets, stigma and discrimination needs to be addressed at all costs, not only today but as of yesterday, if not last year, if not five years ago.
“The reason being, due to stigma and discrimination, people are not open enough to disclose their status which actually is a starting point towards prevention and then again because of lack of disclosure, people are not going to find it easy to adhere to their medication.
“Then they will have to hide each time they need to take their medication. We have realized that due to the issues around failure to adhere to medication, we are then having a situation where viral suppression is getting highly compromised because people are not taking their medication as expected, every day, same time, same time every day; they can’t achieve that if they experience stigma and discrimination.
“What we have also noted in our work with stigma, it varies across different sub population, where even parents are afraid of disclosing their own status to the children or the children’s status to the children themselves,” revealed Jonga.
He also emphasized that people should work together so as to ensure there is a full program to address stigma and discrimination.
It was also revealed during the workshop that another issue of concern is internalized stigma or self-stigma.
Winnet Manyadza, Clinic and Further Education Manager at CONNECT Zimbabwe Institute Systemic Therapy, said internalized stigma was also a stumbling block to all the efforts being put in the HIV fight.
“We are committed to work together so that we strengthen those strategies, so that people living with HIV will live lives which are free of internalized stigma, we would want to see people living lives free from negative thoughts of their HIV status,” said Manyadza.
Shamiso Yikoniko, Technical Advisor-Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization at Zimbabwe Association for Church Related Hospitals, also revealed that stigma and discrimination surrounding various aspects of society including health conditions such as HIV and AIDS can hinder progress and perpetuate inequality. “It is our collective responsibility to champion a society that embraces compassion, empathy and inclusivity. To address this issue, we must first recognize that stigma and discrimination are rooted in ignorance, fear and misconceptions.
“Ending stigma and discrimination is not solely the responsibility of a selected few, it is an obligation that each one of us must embrace, let’s examine our own biases, examine attitudes and promote empathy and understanding within our circle of influence,” said Yikoniko.
Belinda Chindove, Senior Strategic Information and Evaluation Officer at Zimbabwe Health Interventions said
HIV related stigma remains a significant challenge in the country, hindering access to vital HIV prevention, treatment and care services.
She added that it is essential that we confront this issue head on and work collectively so as to create a more compassionate and informed society.
“Let us acknowledge the few key points, understanding stigma, it is not just a word, it’s a real world consequence.
“People living with HIV face many issues, denial of employment, housing and education.
“They may even experience violence; by addressing stigma, we can address the lives of those affected by HIV, let us break the silence.
“HIV related discrimination is a violation of human rights, everyone deserves respect,” she added.
Isheunesu Nhiringi, Technical Advisor Community Support at OPHID, revealed that the increase in stigma was worrisome and is not supposed to be taken lightly.
“The increase in stigma and discrimination from 65,5 percent in 2014 to 69,7 percent in 2022 is a wakeup call and testament to gaps in our current system.
“In Zimbabwe, combating HIV and AIDS is not just about medical treatment, it is about confronting a deeply engraved stigma and discrimination that exacerbates the epidemic.
“Our collective efforts to end stigma is not only morally imperative but also vital for the country’s public health and socio-economic development,” revealed Nhiringi.
He added that the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS did not only marginalize those living with the virus but also hinder prevention and access to treatment.
“Fear of discrimination prevents individuals from getting tested, seeking treatment and disclosing their status, perpetuating the spread of the virus.
“Furthermore, stigma leads to social exclusion, loss of employment opportunities and undermines the overall wellbeing of the affected individual and the community. “Addressing stigma and discrimination requires multifaceted approaches including education, advocacy and policy change. We must challenge myths and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS through community outreaches and awareness campaigns.
“Empowering individuals with accurate information can dispel fear and encourage acceptance. Moreover, legal and policy frameworks must be strengthened to protect the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS and prevent discrimination in healthcare settings, workplaces and society at large,” added Nhiringi.
He also revealed that ensuring equal access to health care and opportunities for all regardless of HIV status, is not just a moral obligation but a strategy imperative for sustainable development.
And he added that by fostering a culture of compassion, understanding and inclusivity, an environment can be created “where individuals feel safe to seek support, access treatment and live fulfilling lives without fear of judgment or discrimination.”
Similar sentiments were also echoed by Imelda Mahaka, Executive Director at Pangea Zimbabwe who revealed that while significant strides had been made in preventing HIV infections, stigma and discrimination was threatening to derail such progress.
“We have come a long way and made sterling progress in preventing HIV infections and putting people living with HIV on optimized regiments, the biggest threat to the gains in the HIV response and to sustain epidemic control is stigma and discrimination.
“We need to appreciate the complexity in the various forms of stigma at individual and community systems levels.
“More importantly, we need to appreciate the intersectionality of stigma for example as Pangea Zimbabwe, we serve communities and individuals who experience stigma either because they are on PrEP or living with HIV but also because, the same individual is a member of the KP (key population) community experiencing gender based violence or has mental health issues or is probably using drugs,” revealed Mahaka.
