Stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV-AIDS remains a significant barrier in Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
This is according to the minister in charge of the presidency, Esther Mbayo, who was addressing the media in Kampala yesterday along with officials from Uganda AIDS Commission.
She noted that the recent Uganda Stigma Index Study indicated that external Stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV-AIDS has reduced but internal stigma, where one self thinks negatively on how he is perceived by others because of his HIV status, remains persistent.
Mbayo said that due to internal stigma which is high in males, many people with HIV delay to be tested, treated and fail to adhere to their medication.
There approximately one point four million people living with HIV-AIDS and one point two million of these are on treatment.
Last year, Uganda had 53,000 new infections and about 20,000 AIDS related deaths. Ends.
