The United Nations has launched a project in China to support
and empower people living with HIV to work as effective policy
advocates and educators against the disease.
"Positive Talks", which is being implemented by Marie Stopes
International China, aims to train and support 35 men and women
living with HIV and AIDS to give "positive talks" at various
HIV-related advocacy, prevention, care and awareness events.
Kang Hui, who heads the scheme, said: "The project not only
builds the confidence of trainers, but also inspires participants
to accept their status.
"It also helps them to increase public understanding of HIV and
those living with the virus."
Stigma and shame have long hampered prevention and treatment
efforts, and are recognized as major contributors to the spread of
the HIV epidemic, he said.
Because HIV/AIDS is often wrongly perceived as a disease that is
exclusive to marginalized groups and judgmentally viewed as being
caused by "morally blameful" behavior, people are deterred from
talking about it or getting tested, Kang said.
Subinay Nandy, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
country director for China, said: "There is now a stronger need
than ever to reach the general public and humanize the face of the
HIV epidemic."
It must be presented as a reality that can affect anybody,
rather than a distant possibility affecting others.
"By doing so, we can counter prejudice, ignorance and
discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV," he
said.
Bernhard Schwartlander, country director for the Joint United
Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said: "People living with HIV
have been shown to have a significant and lasting impact on
people's awareness of their vulnerability to the disease, thereby
dispelling social myths and misconceptions."
A Positive Talks trainer, Gao Fei, who contracted HIV from his
late wife, said he feels an urgency to speak out and present the
true image of people living with HIV to the public.
"Many people with the virus face tremendous pressure," Gao
said.
"But more objective views and the understanding of society can
help them face up to their fears and come out of the shadows."
(China Daily November 29, 2007)
