Stigma high among Apac HIV patients - doctors

Ms Magaret Owori (L) and Betty Akia at Malongo Health Centre III. Photo By Yazid Yolisigira .

APAC.

Although a lot has been done to educate people about HIV and how they can live longer with the deadly virus, the stigma associated with the pandemic is still prevalent.

Apac District authorities have said despite the available treatment for HIV/Aids, people living with the virus often conceal their sickness for fear of stigma from society. Others do not disclose their sero-status because they haven’t accepted that they are infected.

“HIV patients who are accessing specialised services at Aduku Health Centre IV do not want people to see them when they are picking up the drugs from the ART Clinic,” Mr George K. K. Arach, Aduku LC5 councillor, told a meeting at Red Cross Hall in Apac Town on Thursday.

The meeting was organised by Apac Anti-Corruption Coalition (TAACC) to discuss the successes and challenges of the Citizen Action Platform project.

More than 2,000 HIV patients are accessing specialised services at Aduku Health Centre IV, according to the officer in charge of the facility, Dr Augustine Semugenyi.

Dr Semugenyi, who is also the in-charge of Kwania sub-district health centre, said people still perceive HIV as a killer disease despite the availability of the drugs.
He said educating people, especially in rural areas, could minimise the stigma.

Apac District health officer, Dr Mathew Emer, concurred with Dr Semugenyi that lack of knowledge is the reason people have not yet accepted HIV as a chronic disease.

TAACC programme manager Geoffrey Okullo said the recurrent drug shortages in health centres is crippling effective treatment in Apac.