By Bridgett Milton
The National Aids Commission (NAC) in collaboration with partners, has embarked on a two-day stakeholders’ training on stigma and discrimination.
The training is held for the media, religious and traditional leaders, law enforcement, youth organizations, finance and resource institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the training, NAC Chairperson Theodosia Kolee said socio-economic vulnerability, stigma, and discrimination remain a challenge for HIV programs in Liberia.
The NAC boss specifically cited members of the key population groups, lamenting an increased number of People Living With HIV (PLWH) who experience interruption in treatment and lost to follow-up.
She referenced the People Living With HIV stigma index study 2.0 report published in 2022.
In that report, she said, 90.6% of male and 87.2% of female respondents reported that it was difficult to tell people about their HIV status.
“57.2% of respondents who have stopped or interrupted treatment stated that the main reason behind these actions was a worry that someone would find out about their status,” she said.
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Similarly, Madam Kolee continued, stigma, discrimination and violence due to sexual orientation, gender identity and drug user remain common.
According to the 2018 IBSS report, regular verbal abuse or physical violence for engaging in what is considered immoral behavior was reported by 70.4% of MSM (men who have sex with men), FSW (female sex workers), and (32.7%) and PWID (people who inject drugs) (5.6%).
She said over 15% of MSM (15.8%) and 25.7% of transgender confessed that they were beaten, and 11.9% of MSM and 35.4% of transgender reported experiencing verbal harassment.
Additionally, she said 6.7% of MSM and 20.3% of transgender have been blackmailed for their sexual orientation and 6% of MSM and 18.6% of transgender have been bullied.
NAC added that the overall objective of this training is to strengthen advocacy and the national response to stigma, discrimination and violence against PLHV (people living with HIV) as well as key and vulnerable populations in Liberia, including access to and uptake of HIV services.
NAC said this training is aimed to create awareness and improve the understanding of stigma, discrimination, and violence, and how they affect PLHIV and key populations in Liberia.
