An activist sets up a red ribbon during the commemoration of the World AIDS Day in San Salvador, on December 1, 2010. AFP PHOTO/ Jose CABEZAS
Stigma and discrimination are two factors that continue to drive the HIV/AIDS epidemic forward. Employees face discrimination at work, women and men are afraid to get tested and run the risk of being ostracized by family and friends, and children are turned away from schools.
Stigma and discrimination based on HIV status are wrong, and the U.S. government does not condone stigmatization or discrimination of HIV-positive persons. USAID takes stigma and discrimination seriously, and we work with our partner countries to make sure the effect of this type of thinking is understood.
Through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. is proud to be making a historic commitment to combat HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR is driven by a partnership between the U.S. government and the nations where it works, along with other donors, multilateral organizations, nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, and people living with HIV, to make smart investments to save lives.
With support from USAID, U.S. government country programs have been addressing stigma since the beginning of the epidemic and with increased intensity with the advent of PEPFAR in 2003. Reducing stigma and discrimination is a prominent goal of PEPFAR’s current Partnership Framework agreements. Through this mechanism, the U.S. government actively works in partnership with countries to end stigma and discrimination.
Centrally, the U.S. government funds activities that reduce stigma and discrimination, such as providing the tools necessary for networks of HIV-positive individuals to engage in evidence-based advocacy. USAID’s recently completed Health Policy Initiative (HPI) worked with partners to develop indicators to measure various aspects of stigma and discrimination. By participating in expert working groups, the program built consensus for common action and took the lead on a Health Facility and Provider Stigma Measurement Tool. HPI also increased private sector engagement and encouraged religious leaders to speak out against stigma and discrimination.
Now, through the Health Policy Project (HPP), USAID continues work globally to strengthen policy and advocacy support for the reduction of stigma and discrimination, especially as it relates to HIV prevention, care and treatment services.
All of us who work on global AIDS issues are aware of the negative impacts of stigma and discrimination, and are committed to creating equal access to quality care and services for those living with HIV worldwide.
great move. in this part of the world, lagos, nigeria, folks are still stigmatized and ostracized, ARV’s are expensive n inaccessible as there more private health sectors than public ie 70 – 30%. there shld be a partnership with private health centers and also get to the community level.
You say you take it seriously. Ok, so do you support the US aiming for greater access to AIDS treatment, by setting a specific goal of 6 million for the US global AIDS, as called for by dozens of groups in a recent letter to President Obama?? When HIV is no longer a death sentence, and when treatment reduces incidence of TB, stigma and fear will diminish. With access to treatment it starts to be considered less something to be ashamed about and more people will get tested.
It’s been 30 years! We are long overdue for a cure! Please support re:solve AIDS and the Chronic Disease Fund. resolvefromcdf.org
People in the US still feel stigmatized for having HIV/AIDS but I’m proud to see the efforts put forth by the government to reach out to people suffering from the disease and the reduction in statistics related treatment regimen being more accessible in order to extend one’s life expectancy. In addition to these measures, the government has also reached out to religious organizations in providing additional means of support for individuals to get involved in.