Stigmatising and discriminating against HIV/AIDS patients makes thedisease even harder to control, Director of the Ministry of Health’sAdministration of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Nguyen Hoang Longsaid.
He spoke with Vietnam News Agency reporter about theNational Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control from November10 to December 10 with a focus on non-discrimination against HIV/AIDSpatients.
The official said discrimination was one of the mainbarriers hindering HIV-positive and at risk individuals from accessingpreventive and treatment services, thus delaying the diagnosis of HIVand limiting the effectiveness of efforts to control the virus.
Additionally, prejudice hampers the full realisation of HIV patients’ legal rights, such as the right to study and work.
Publicawareness on HIV/AIDS has improved in recent years due to communicationefforts. However, Long admitted that negative attitudes towards HIVpatients were still common, including amongst their own families andcommunities, as well as medical establishments.
A lack ofknowledge on HIV/AIDS increases prejudice: many people still falselybelieve the disease can be transmitted through direct contact such assharing household utensils. Others associate HIV/AIDS with drug abuseand prostitution.
Campaigns that solely portray the diseaseas a danger and show HIV-positive individuals as inferior have furtherstrengthened the stigma, he added.
Long said a number ofactivities will be organised at central and local levels in response tothis year’s month of action, such as visits to HIV-positive children bysenior officials; high profile talk shows with the participation ofpolicymakers, medical service providers and HIV patients;HIV/AIDS-themed theatre performances; and meetings between ministriesand the press.
Localities throughout the country are alsoexpected to engage with HIV-positive residents and run communicationcampaigns to increase the public’s awareness, along with symposiums,meetings, and art exchanges, he added.-VNA
He spoke with Vietnam News Agency reporter about theNational Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control from November10 to December 10 with a focus on non-discrimination against HIV/AIDSpatients.
The official said discrimination was one of the mainbarriers hindering HIV-positive and at risk individuals from accessingpreventive and treatment services, thus delaying the diagnosis of HIVand limiting the effectiveness of efforts to control the virus.
Additionally, prejudice hampers the full realisation of HIV patients’ legal rights, such as the right to study and work.
Publicawareness on HIV/AIDS has improved in recent years due to communicationefforts. However, Long admitted that negative attitudes towards HIVpatients were still common, including amongst their own families andcommunities, as well as medical establishments.
A lack ofknowledge on HIV/AIDS increases prejudice: many people still falselybelieve the disease can be transmitted through direct contact such assharing household utensils. Others associate HIV/AIDS with drug abuseand prostitution.
Campaigns that solely portray the diseaseas a danger and show HIV-positive individuals as inferior have furtherstrengthened the stigma, he added.
Long said a number ofactivities will be organised at central and local levels in response tothis year’s month of action, such as visits to HIV-positive children bysenior officials; high profile talk shows with the participation ofpolicymakers, medical service providers and HIV patients;HIV/AIDS-themed theatre performances; and meetings between ministriesand the press.
Localities throughout the country are alsoexpected to engage with HIV-positive residents and run communicationcampaigns to increase the public’s awareness, along with symposiums,meetings, and art exchanges, he added.-VNA
