AIDS stigma in GT

With an estimated 8,000 people dying from it every day, Aids represents an international crisis of staggering proportions. Guyana is no stranger to this epidemic. A recent article in the Stabroek News paper which discussed a study done on 300 Guyanese afflicted with the virus. The article caught my attention because it managed to divulge that there is still wide spread discrimination still occurring in Guyana. Moreover, here are some comments made by one top official of a prominent counseling service, in an attempt to justify the rude and discriminating behavior of health workers in Guyana, He claims " the issue of discrimination at medical institutions should be taken in context." He noted that persons should take into consideration the conditions under which medical employees work, which sometimes would leave them stressed and in dealing with the public this may be evident in their attitudes. "Since when do the sick have to take pity for the people who are suppose to be doing their job." "Public servants / government workers always got a long sour face. I hope he realizes that better salaries and better screening of employees would help with this situation, worker satisfaction will always get you better employees, especially in the care-taking / service sector. I think his response just hit a bad nerve for me.

" Some pride should be taken in trying to help individuals who are scarred with the virus and stained for life, or at least what is left of it." He further pointed out that Guyana has come a far way from the days when the virus was known as the "gay plague" and when working at the Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic meant that a person had to be HIV positive. But he cautioned about being complacent while adding that a lot of money is now being spent in that area.

According to the article "The change in society could also be attributed to the fact that almost everyone knows someone who is infected." Titled 'Survey of Stigma and Discrimination Experiences of HIV+ Guyanese', the survey was conducted through the National AIDS Committee (NAC) who used HIV-infected persons to conduct the interviews. The 300 correspondents came from nine regions and according to NAC it was done mainly to assess the impact of stigma and discrimination on infected persons. The findings of the survey were revealed at a forum yesterday which saw representatives from various organizations working in the area. The NAC, which says it is not an executing body, hopes that entities could use the result to take action in the area.

According to the survey fears generated by attitudes that stigmatise infected persons, particularly in family and religious circles, are of greater concern than overt acts of discrimination. "Judgemental attitudes, generating shame and embarrassment, add up to powerful influences to deter people in Guyana from disclosing their HIV identity. In turn, failure to disclose generates many negative personal, societal, medical and economic consequences," the survey said.

For more information link to this page (source) http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=14588