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MBUGUA: Stop HIV stigma to end inequalities

The fear of discrimination limits people from adapting preventive behaviours.

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by DAMARIS KIILU

Opinion19 May 2022 - 01:00

In Summary


  • •With all their health issues, they go through social rejection, isolation, and discrimination.
  • •This is a factor that worsens their mental health general health and well-being altogether.
A patient gets tested for HIV.

Since independence, Kenya has always aspired to end three major social problems which are ignorance, poverty, and disease.

Fifty-nine years later, Kenya is still struggling to find solutions to its three major plights affecting its citizens.

To date, Kenya is categorised as a country with alarming HIV statistics, especially in Africa.  UNAIDs 2020 data estimate that 1.4 million people are living with HIV in Kenya.

Globally, people living with HIV are subjected to extreme stigma and discrimination in their workplaces, families, religion, market, borders, and health care facilities.

They are usually treated badly and a majority have been neglected by their friends and families.

With all their health issues, they go through social rejection, isolation, and discrimination. A factor that worsens their mental health general health and well-being altogether

It is worth noting that HIV stigma and discrimination are a gross violation of human rights.

Every person regardless of their health condition is entitled to enjoy their human rights including the right to life, freedom of association, and right to the highest standards of health care.

Subjecting people living with HIV to enormous stigma and discrimination is a step back erasing the footprints achieved in the fight of ending the HIV epidemic.

Stigma and discrimination contribute to a thriving ground for the further spreading of HIV infections.

The fear of being isolated, perhaps makes it hard to access HIV information, test to know the status, and disclose HIV status to intimate partners. 

The fear of stigma and discrimination limits people to adopt preventive behaviours.

Due to HIV stigma and discrimination people living with HIV are forced to take their ARVs in secret places with the majority missing their prescription time due to the fear of disclosing their status.

Therefore, it is outright that HIV stigma is a thorn in the flesh that compromises the concerted efforts achieved by the Ministry of Health, National AIDS Control Council and NGOs.

There is a dire need to address the HIV stigma and discrimination in the family, workplace, healthcare facilities, religion, and other sectors of the economy to end HIV inequalities in Kenya.

Team leader Angaza Youth Initiative

Edited by Kiilu Damaris


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