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Let’s support, not vilify, people living with HIV
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The Sun, the Daily Mail and The Times have reported that Everson Banda, an African immigrant who has been residing in the UK until last month, has infected six women with
HIV.
Most people living with HIV do not want to infect others. On the contrary, they want to inform and protect others from going through a similar experience. The three articles assume that Everson Banda is HIV positive, that he knew his HIV status and that he knowingly infected the women who are HIV positive. |
However, there is not enough information to draw these conclusions; and it is unhelpful to give out such messages because they contribute to a negative perception of immigrants
and people living with HIV in the UK, who are often responsible individuals. It would be more useful to send out messages that support people to test for HIV, to be open with others about their status and to practise safer sex.
Dr. Max Sesay, Chief Executive of the African HIV Policy Network stated, ‘Africans living with HIV in the UK contribute enormously to society.
Language such as ‘AIDS timebomb’ stigmatises people living with HIV. It creates an uncomfortable environment, which deters people from testing for HIV and from disclosing their status to others.’
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