Zero HIV Stigma Day Redefines Narratives
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Summary:
HIV.gov highlights why Zero HIV Stigma Day is relevant in 2024 and how this awareness day addresses stigma.
July 21st is the second annual Zero HIV Stigma Day, which helps raise awareness about HIV stigma and how to help stop it. This year’s theme, “Beyond Labels: Redefining HIV Narratives,” is a call to move beyond stereotypes associated with people with HIV and to celebrate the decades of advocacy that is changing those narratives. The day coincides with the birthday of Prudence Mabele, an activist who was the first woman in South Africa to disclose her HIV status in 1992.
Zero HIV Stigma Day is a joint initiative of NAZ and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)Exit Disclaimer in collaboration with the Global HIV Collaborative and Fast-Track Cities Institute. To highlight why this awareness day matters in 2024, HIV.gov spoke with Kalvin Pugh, Senior Advisor, Community Engagement, IAPAC.
Mr. Pugh said stigma doesn’t just impact those with HIV, but it also prevents individuals from accessing services for testing or prevention. He added that the global awareness day is making an impact on reducing stigma.
“Since this is the second commemoration, the noticeable differences that I saw were on a community level and on a personal level with folks who I interacted with last year, those who felt that the Human First film was really touching for them and elevated the different aspects of stigma that people interact with daily.”
Mr. Pugh said one of the most notable outcomes of the awareness day is that a young woman in the UK who has had HIV for a long time finally felt comfortable enough to disclose her status on social media and share that she was doing just fine.
“I think the further we go, the more we elevate these messages, the better, and the more outcomes we hope to improve,” he said, adding that stigma may never be eliminated, but we can all do our part. “What we really need to do if we’re going to save the planet and move humanity forward is show kindness and compassion.”
HIV-related stigma is addressed in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which calls on all sectors of society to work together to combat stigma and discrimination to reduce new transmissions and improve health outcomes for people with HIV.