HIV treatment: from 20 pills a day to just one
Credit: NIAID, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
According to a 2023 report by the UNAIDS, over 39 million adults worldwide are living with HIV. Africa, specifically sub-Saharan Africa, has the highest recorded rates of HIV globally. The World Health Organisation reports an adult prevalence rate of 3.4%, accounting for more than two-thirds of the world’s people living with HIV. While modern medicine has provided antiretroviral solutions that, when followed, eliminate the risk of transmission through sex, stigma against those living with HIV continues to undermine progress.
Share of population living with HIV by country
Credit: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, CC BY, via OurWorldInData.org
Beyond Health to Wellness and Inclusion
Four decades after its discovery, HIV has become not only a health issue, but has evolved into a social challenge as well because many people face discrimination and exclusion that can often outweigh the physical impacts of the virus. For many, the virus is easier to manage than the silence, fear, and judgment that follow a diagnosis. Stigmatization of people with HIV is caused by several factors, like fear of transmission, association with death, and negative attitudes towards and moral judgment of highly affected populations. These factors are amplified by widespread misinformation about HIV and the lack of common education about the virus and its transmission.
The effects of exclusion of persons living with HIV are not only personal, but also structural. In schools, children and young people living with HIV may be bullied or denied equal opportunities, limiting their ability to reach their full potential. In workplaces, employees who disclose their status risk being sidelined for promotions or even losing their jobs. Within healthcare systems, the fear of breaches of confidentiality deters many from accessing services. These layers of discrimination reveal a human rights challenge that requires a broader conversation about dignity, equity, and inclusion.
Building Community and Reaching Out
Re-imagining inclusion requires shifting the narrative. Encouraging models, such as the advocacy work done by the International AIDS Society, demonstrate how effective support systems make a real difference for people living with HIV. Community groups, for example, play a vital role by offering peer support, creating safe spaces where individuals can share experiences, access information, and receive emotional encouragement from others who truly understand their challenges. This peer support helps to both reduce feelings of isolation and empower people to manage their health confidently and consistently.
PEPFAR Sessions On Youth & HIV with Ambassador John Nkengasong
Credit: USEmbassySA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Businesses should adopt inclusive workplace policies that protect employees living with HIV from discrimination, promote confidentiality, and provide education to reduce stigma among staff. These policies not only create fairer working environments but also boost morale and productivity, showing that inclusion benefits both employees and employers.
Governments Must Fulfill Their Duties to All Their People
Politics define the public response to HIV, both good and bad, and it is the responsibility of all governments to ensure their people living with HIV receive comprehensive support without fear of judgment. Governments should implement progressive health and social programs that increase access to testing, treatment, and social services while addressing the social determinants of health.
Together, these efforts form a comprehensive approach that addresses stigma from multiple angles. When these models work in harmony, people living with HIV can thrive, and society benefits through improved health outcomes, reduced transmission, and greater social inclusion. Beyond the stigma lies the possibility of a global society where individuals living with HIV are embraced as equal citizens, valued not by the condition they carry but for the lives they lead and the futures they shape.
This article was written by a guest contributor, Z. Akande.
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