Self-stigma….a major challenge in HIV/AIDS fight – Dr Singh

Apr 25, 2011 News

---

Although the impact of stigma and discrimination still has a dire impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS, the health sector has been able to make inroads among some key populations. However, self-stigma has been noted as a major factor in addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS.
This disclosure was made by Head of the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr Shanti Singh, who recently revealed that evidence indicate that stigma and discrimination against HIV-infected persons has been significantly reduced.

According to Dr. Singh, the Biologic and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BBSS) for Commercial Sex Workers and Men who have Sex with Men (MSN) populations has shown that almost 80 and 85 percent of female workers and men respectively were tested for HIV.
Her enlightening remarks were forthcoming as she addressed a stakeholders’ forum which was intended to discuss the findings of the HIV/AIDS Programme Sustainability Analysis Tool (HAPSAT).
The meeting came as a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and the Heath Systems Strengthening programme (HS20/20), which is funded by USAID.
Directly linked to stigma and discrimination is the level of awareness and knowledge among 98 percent of female workers and 100 percent of men who have sex with men, who are aware of HIV and AIDS, Dr Singh disclosed.
“On the flipside, while it is shown that knowledge is high, only three percent of the MSN population were willing to buy from an infected vendor while 30 percent of the female commercial sex worker population felt that people living with HIV should be quarantined…55 percent felt that the HIV status of a family member should be kept a secret.”
As a result Dr Singh has underscored that while stigma and discrimination still exist to some extent, it is clear that self stigma is a major problem.  As such she recommended the need for a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing this challenge even as she pointed out that the issue of the coordination of the response to HIV/AIDS must also be examined. According to Dr Singh, while it is the National AIDS Programme’s mandate to coordinate existing programmes, in the interest of coordination it has also taken on the role of implementing the Global Fund Grant, a major donor to the HIV/AIDS response.
Just recently, Acting Secretary General of the Caricom Secretariat, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, revealed that Global Fund had directed just under US$30M to aid the fight against HIV/AIDS even in the face of dwindling financial support.
This grant funding, according to her is expected to be advanced in two phases and will support a strategic regional approach to help develop the systems needed to deal with those persons who are most at risk, including and especially young persons. She revealed too that the funds will be used in the area of prevention and to support an environment of treatment.
According to Dr Singh “our role as the coordinating body is dependent on all of our partners and stakeholders working with us. It is important that you work with us and allow us to coordinate in an efficient manner.”
Nevertheless, she noted that the local HIV/AIDS response has come a long way, adding that regular programme reports are generated on a timely basis by the National AIDS Programme, a move which she deemed important for sustainability.
Further, she disclosed that the Programme has the capacity to lead the generation of key required international and local reports such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGASS) Report, the Presidential Commission and NAPS Annual Report, Quality of Care Report, HIV/DR (Drug Resistance) Report, Early Warning Indicators Report, among others.
“We have also developed the capacity to contribute to other reports such as the Millennium Development Goals Report, Dr Singh noted.
However, she revealed that there is still the need for one unified set of indicators and for one clearing house for available information.
As a result, she disclosed that work is ongoing with UNAIDS to possibly bring on board the Country Response Information System (CRIS).  She added too, that “as the economic situation dictates and does the movement of the donor community intensively towards value for money, integration and health system strengthening has become more acute.”
For this reason, Dr Singh noted that the HIV prevention efforts and particularly HIV education has to be mainstreamed in local sensitisation and training efforts.
“This is not new to our programme and many new programmes and many good examples exist such as the integration of HIV education in occupational and safety trainings in the Ministry of Labour.”  Moreover, she noted that as partnerships forge ahead in addressing sustainability, more avenues for integration must also be explored.

---

---