Stigma rates high in society—Dignitas

Stigma continues to haunt people affected and infected by HIV and Aids, Dignitas country director Vanessa van Schoor has said.

She was speaking in Zomba at the weekend during activities to commemorate World Aids Day at the Zomba Gymkhana Club ground.

Schoor said despite the country making remarkable achievements in fighting HIV and Aids, more can be done to bring awareness in communities.

“We need to emphasise on many people getting tested to know their sero-status. More importantly, expectant mothers have to be encouraged [to get tested] so that prevention of mother to child transmission could be enhanced,” she said.

Schoor said there is need to root out stigma and discrimination in society to ensure that people have equal opportunities.

She acknowledged that multi-sectoral coordination and response by stakeholders has seen great strides in putting people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and reducing the national prevalence to about 10.6 percent.

Zomba City Council chief executive officer Ali Phiri said there is need for people to be sensitised to behavioural change.

“Malawi needs to reach a point where new HIV infections can be reduced; those affected and infected are respected in the society just as we do with every other individual,” said Phiri.

The commemoration started with a march from Three Miles to Zomba Zero led by Police and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) bands, respectively.