CONAKRY-In Guinea, 220,000 people are infected with HIV AIDS and only 65% are under treatment according to national statistics. One of the obstacles to the fight against this pandemic is still the stigmatization of carriers of the virus.
On the occasion of the world day against this disease celebrated this December 1st, Africaguinee.com collected the testimonies of people living with HIV. They talk about the main difficulties they face on a daily basis.
“People are afraid of the disease, but when you go to get tested, it lets you know if you have the disease or not. I urge all of us to get tested. During the first 15 days of the month, we will go out for awareness, this activity will be accompanied by screening. The test, screening is free and confidential. One of the challenges facing sufferers today is stigma. It’s something that kills more than AIDS.
It is because of this stigma that some people are afraid to get tested. But we, as the Network of Associations of People living and affected by AIDS, strongly encourage screening. When you know your status, you can manage and no one will know that you have the disease or not. But when you wait for the disease to send you to the hospital, you will be victim of the stigma“, testifies Marie Loua Marie, living with the disease.
In 2022, People Infected and Affected by HIV AIDS suffered from a break in anti retroviral treatment according to Hawa Goto Kolié, President of the Guinean Network of Associations of People Infected and Affected by HIV AIDS (REGAP Plus). She finds inequalities in the treatment.
“The community actors that we are, see inequalities due to dysfunctions and barriers limiting the care of patients. These are: the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV in the health space and in the communities, the different access points for carrying out the viral load, the gaps in early diagnosis among exposed children, as well as in the provision of pediatric treatments throughout the national territory, the delay in disbursement in the counterpart of the State for the purchase of inputs and drugs, the fact that several biological examinations which are essential in monitoring the intake are not free in charge of HIV PV quality“, deplores this activist engaged in the fight against HIV in Guinea.
“Let’s push for equality“This is the global theme of the celebration of this World Day against HIV. For Kadiatou Bôdjé this theme aims to allow all people living with HIV to have access to care like other patients.
” If there are people who leave the interior of the country to come to the USFR in Conakry, it is because there is inequality in the treatment. As a person living with HIV, I call on everyone to join hands so that there is equality in the care of HIV throughout Guinea.“, she launched
I almost got kicked out because I’m HIV positive
One of the main difficulties faced by HIV carriers is the stigmatization in society. Despite this risk, she encourages people to take the courage to go get tested, find out their serological status for proper care.
“Stigma is what hinders HIV treatment. If someone is afraid to take the test it is because they are afraid of being stigmatized if they are HIV positive. I was almost kicked out because I testified that I have HIV. But today thank God I am home, thanks to the treatment because I first accepted my status. If we see someone living with HIV, let’s accept them, counsel them and help them get treated, it can prevent them from transmitting the virus to another person. Because a person in care rarely transmits HIV to another person. But if opportunistic infections are there, it will be complicated“, she advised.
According to the head of mission of Belgian Médecins Sans Frontières in Guinea, the global fund encountered in 2022, difficulties in replenishing resources within the framework of funding cycles, for the next years between 2023 and 2026.
The 18 billion dollars will certainly not be reached when the needs are increased. According to UN Aids, 29 billion dollars are estimated to be necessary by the end of 2025, so that the world can hope to put an end to the AIDS pandemic which is a threat to global health by 2030, alerted Mr. David THEROND .
” To achieve the objectives set for the fight against HIV/AIDS and the elimination of AIDS by 2030, political recommitment is urgently needed in order to mobilize the necessary resources in the response. Also, inequalities between the sexes and the number of genders play a decisive role in the epidemic of the AIDS virus. In the same way, the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV is a scourge, the extent of which is measured on a daily basis in Guinea. This represents a significant barrier to access to care for people living with HIV.“, did he declare.
Siddy Koundara Diallo
Pour Africaguinee.com
Tel: (00224) 664 72 76 28