Achieving national HIV response, targets key

In the early 1990s, when the country recorded the first case of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it was considered a death sentence and an HIV patient was regarded as an outcast, with no one willing to have anything doing with that person.

Consequently, persons living with the virus were stigmatised, excluded from essential services and generally discriminated against simply because they had the virus.

At the global level, it was apparent that there had been widespread discrimination against and stigmatisation of persons living with the virus.

It was to ensure that such people were given the needed respect and dignity that the United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS), on March 1, 2014, March 1, each year as Zero Discrimination Day to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout the member countries of the UN.

This year, the day is being commemorated on the theme: “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”, highlighting the urgent need to take action against discriminatory laws and to remind the public that stigmatisation of and discrimination against persons living with HIV are the major challenges to the national HIV response and targets.

To address the issue of discrimination and stigmatisation in the country, especially at the workplace, the government, as early as 2004, acting through the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and its partner agencies, the Ministry of Manpower, Employment and Development, as well as the Tripartite Committee, developed a National Workplace HIV/AIDS Policy for the country.

The policy provided the framework for Ghana’s strategy to reduce the spread and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the workforce.

As a UN member nation, Ghana joined the rest of the world yesterday to commemorate the day, noting that the issues persons with HIV suffer include denial of employment, denial of rental housing, education, police assistance, eviction from rented houses or family house, disclosure of status to third parties and refusal to share social amenities with them.

At this stage, we will add our voice to the need for all of us to desist from treating such persons and other vulnerable people as outcasts due to their health status.

We agree with the Director-General of the GAC, Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, that stigmatisation of and discrimination against persons living with HIV are the major challenges to achieving the national HIV response and targets.

Without any doubt, discrimination affects people's opportunities, well-being and output, manifesting in low self-esteem on the individual.

Discrimination against people living with the virus further endangers everyone, since many people will not be willing to know their status to avoid the discrimination and end up spreading it unknowingly.

Even those who know their status will keep it a secret because of the impact of discrimination.

The Daily Graphic believes that the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), in partnership with the GAC, must continue to educate people on the negative impact discrimination can have on the total development of the nation.

Fora, sensitisation in churches and mosques, at marketplaces and areas where there are gatherings can help reduce discrimination and stigmatisation.

We all have a role to play and the responsibility to support such people with their basic needs and accepting them as part of us.

Acquiring HIV can be everyone’s lot; it is, therefore, our collective responsibility to ensure that those with the virus live normal and comfortable lives so that they can contribute to national development.

Discrimination is sickening and so let us together say NO to it. Everyone has the right to live a full and productive life — and live it with dignity and free from discrimination.