MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberia Anti-AIDS Media Network has launched a campaign aimed at reducing social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and other sexual minority groups.
The campaign was launched in Monrovia with support from the American Jewish World Service. It will strengthen discussions among stakeholders to support Liberia’s HIV scale-up programs, using Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights or SRHR, through awareness as a driving force.
The president of the network, Necus Andrew, said stigma and discrimination are societal barriers that undermine improved public health interventions. He noted that stigma and discrimination also prevent individuals from seeking health care and declaring their health status.
“One of the things I have come to realize is that when people hear about LGBT, or transgender or [men who have sex with men], the first thing that comes to mind is the act and not the person. They don’t see the person, so, they stigmatize and discriminate”
He said the campaign seeks to improve collaboration between media and civil society organizations to enable members of marginalized populations to have access to health care services without being stigmatized.
The launch of the campaign coincided with the training of 20 journalists and civil society members working to promote sexual reproductive health and rights.
Miriam Chipimo, the UNAIDS country director, said if Liberia must achieve its goal of having 90 percent of people living with HIV tested, 90 percent of those tested positive placed on regular treatment, and 90 percent of people on treatment achieve a suppressed viral level by 2020, the country must reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.