HIV-AIDS expert: HIV no longer a death sentence
As South Africa commemorates World AIDS Day, an HIV/AIDS expert, says that social stigma remains one of the biggest hurdles in the fight against HIV.
Munya Saruchera from Stellenbosch University, says that HIV-positive individuals still face acute prejudice and discrimination from family and friends today.
" HIV and AIDS is no longer a death sentence like it was perceived or understood to be."
The World Health Organisation, under the theme 'Let communities lead,' has highlighted the role communities play in shaping the HIV response.
READ: Stigma, discrimination hampering HIV/AIDS battle in SA, conference hears
Saruchera says HIV/AIDS should be treated like any other chronic disease, such as cancer.
" How then do we begin to desensitise HIV and AIDS in a way that makes it look and feel like any health condition? People can still live healthy and long lives and people are in their 70s now living with it and then some are not HIV positive who have passed on. So that tells you with the right attitude and medication, adhering and living responsibly one can have a very long life irrespective."
