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Unite and fight Aids stigma, says Unaids
2006-02-21 09:05:49
By Guardian Reporter
The United Nations Commission on Aids (UNAIDS) has urged people living with HIV/Aids in Tanzania to close ranks and fight for their rights against stigmatization.
UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot made the remarks in Dar es Salaam at the launching of a book on experiences of people living with HIV/Aids, Yaliyopita si Ndwele.
The book has been prepared by the Public Health Education of FEMINA HIP in collaboration with SIDA, DCI, UNAIDS, TANOPHA and TACAIDS.
Dr Piot said if people living with HIV/Aids would not unite and have one voice their rights would be lost.
He promised that his organization would ensure that networks of people living with HIV/Aids are supported in capacity building so as to be able to run smoothly and fight for their rights.
Earlier, the report by people living with HIV/Aids handed to the UNAIDS Executive Director showed that due to lack of co-operation and weak communication among them, it has become difficult to fight for their rights as well as present their problems to policy makers, donors and employers.
They said that another problem that has made them weak in defending for their rights was that many of the networks of the people living with HIV/Aids are being led by members who lacked capacity and the required expertise in leadership.
’This doesn’t mean that educated and people with good knowledge in leadership are not infected but they don’t want to break the silence,’ said Edwin Kikote, who was reading the speech on behalf of the others.
Kikote urged UNAIDS to co-operate with ILO to ensure that people living with HIV/Aids are not denied their rights of employment.
They told Piot that because of stigmatization many employees do not come forward to declare their HIV status.
’This has made many not to test HIV hence do not have access to ARV treatment for fear that when found negative would lose his/her job,’ he said.
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