Stigma still preventing persons from tapping HIV treatment – ministry official

Participants at SASOD’s ninth annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial reflect on the stories of loved ones living with the illness.

In Guyana treatment is available for HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS,  however stigma associated with the disease continues to prevent persons from accessing this help.

This was stated by Programme Manager of the Ministry of Public Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr. Rhonda Moore. Moore was at the time speaking at the ninth annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial organized by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) on Saturday.

Moore who delivered the feature address at the event explained that the Ministry of Public Health is open to working with civil society to ensure that persons are free to access public services such as HIV/AIDS treatment without stigma and discrimination.