Report discrimination cases
Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), who experience discrimination on the basis of their HIV status, have been advised to report such incidents to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
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Enlightening PLHIV on a web-based system for reporting cases of HIV-related discrimination, Rev. John Azuma, an HIV Heart–to-Heart (H2H) Ambassador, assured the PLHIV that CHRAJ would handle the complaints in confidence.
According to the Ghana PLHIV Stigma Index Survey (2014), the most common forms of stigma experienced by PLHIV are gossip, verbal insults or harassment. The survey said discrimination exists in the housing, employment, education and healthcare sectors.
Per the report, respondents in most cases feared the consequences of disclosure and hence kept quiet on such issues to conceal their status from other people.
Speaking at an interaction session held at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) unit of the Police Hospital, he said complainants should simply send text messages to 1406, for redress.
HIV stigma and discrimination, he said, were prime barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and explained that stigma and discrimination made people reluctant to get tested, disclose their HIV status, or seek medical attention.
Making reference to the National HIV/AIDS Policy, he reminded them that it was unlawful for any of them to wilfully infect others with the virus.
The interaction, which is an initiative of the Ghana AIDS Commission, is aimed at reaching pregnant women and ART clients with information on HIV treatment services.
Ms.Gifty Torkornu Degbeh, an HIV positive mother, who has lived with the condition for over a decade, encouraged the PLHIV to desist from self-inflicted stigma.
She said aside discrimination from people in the society, low self-esteem also dampened their spirits and affected them psychologically.
She, therefore, advised them to be confident in their daily activities.
