September 10, 2015
Stigma barrier in indigenous HIV/AIDS fight
The Public Health Association has heard a call for education programmes that directly address Maori and Pasifika people on the risks of HIV and AIDs.
Marama Pala from the INA (Maori, Indigenous and South Pacific), HIV/AIDS Foundation says while there is overall progress in the global HIV and AIDS response, for indigenous peoples the epidemic continues to be fuelled by social marginalisation, economic inequality and other structural factors.
Maori are in a particularly vulnerable position, because of poverty, mental health and drug addictions, sexual and physical abuse, low education outcomes, and poor literacy.
Maori have the highest burden of children living with HIV in Aotearoa.
Ms Pala says what has proved most effective in prevention messaging is public speakers trained in telling their stories on how they were infected . . . most starting their korero with, ‘I never thought this would happen to me…’
She says HIV is now a manageable chronic illness, and the biggest challenge for Maori is often managing the stigma and discrimination associated with it.
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