INFECTED AND AFFECTED

AIDS is regarded as one of the greatest human challenges which is a devastating and deadly disease affecting people worldwide. 

Like all infections, it comes without warning.

Stigma and discrimination are world events which seriously affect the lives of people infected with HIV. 

Stigma, Discrimination and other human rights violations may occur to infected and the affected population hence wiping out either an entire generation or reducing the generation. 

Health-related stigma is a social process which appears as isolation, rejection, blame or devaluation. It occurs when the person is treated unequally and unfairly . 

HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination have a crucial impact on the life of people living with HIV/AIDS and can be an important barrier for voluntary test and consultation.  

Oftenly in our today's setting the citizens  do not go for voluntary check up but are only available when admitted to hospital and in most cases on an occurrence of an accident, giving birth or sudden sickness.

 Here some health workers have caused trauma to patients after testing them and instead of first counseling them and also providing lifesaving information on how to minimize spreading or preventing it, they have violated the patient’s privacy and confidentiality, including disclosure of a person’s HIV status to family members or hospital employees without authorisation.

 These individuals sometimes in denial or fueled by ignorance refuse to take medication and proper nutrition to prove that they are not infected.  This is a damaging effect on the well being of people affected by HIV.

Self-stigma and fear of negative community reaction can hinder efforts to address the HIV epidemic by continuing the wall of silence and shame surrounding the virus. Negative self-judgement resulting in shame, worthlessness and blame represents an important but neglected aspect of people living with HIV.

In the workplace, people living with HIV may suffer stigma from their co-workers and employers, such as social isolation, ridicule or experience discriminatory practices, such as termination or refusal of employment.

The gulf region has constantly requested for medical check up prior to departure and on reporting to duty, any findings of HIV and AIDS one is deported soonest to their country.

Other employers have denied opportunity to work, promotions or even salary increaments.

 Such persons are faced with ridicule and constant checkups demanded by organization policies that are input by employers once they are aware of their employees' HIV status.

Colleagues often ridicule and cause tension in the company due to lack of information on HIV hence creating a wall/barrier on their fellow colleagues.

Community-level stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV can force people to leave their home and change their daily activities.

Women and girls often fear stigma and rejection from their families, not only because they stand to lose their social place of belonging, but also because they could loose their shelter, their children, and their ability to survive. 

The isolation that social rejection brings can lead to low self-esteem, depression, and even thoughts or acts of suicide.

Orphans are mostly left to fend for themselves.  Most of these orphans have lost their places in society, others have eventually become street urchins, thugs, some have secured places in children homes enabling their lives to become better.

Sex workers, gays and Young girls are often faced with death threats and traps as they are identified as key drivers of transmission.

Pregnant women and lactating mothers are often scoffed at and forced either to give up their babies or thrown out of their homes to avoid double deaths. Also women living with HIV/AIDS are labeled as adulterous.  

These people are stigmatized and pushed out of the community. Stigmatization from the disease deeply degrades the person's personality from a whole to an ordinary and finally to a stigmatized walking zombie with low morale.