Tweet

Tags

hiv and the workplace, nhls, sowetan, stigma, the times

Related media coverage

• The King’s speech: Focusing on the role of men
• Jane’s story: No why, no how
• Cured by the Classifieds?
• From China with love
• The Times offers a valuable platform for discussion

“there is still much work to be done before disclosing one’s HIV status has as little impact on a person’s employment as diabetes”

HIV Stigma still stifling SA

An employer’s angry and paranoid reaction to the news that her domestic worker is HIV-positive illustrates that South Africa still has a long hard road to travel to disseminate knowledge around HIV and sow the seeds for acceptance of those living with the virus.

According to The Times and the Sowetan the woman’s employer obtained her HIV results without her consent from an equally guilty National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) employee.

Besides the obvious violation of the worker’s rights by her employer and the NHLS staff member there is also the issue of stigmatisation.

News reports say that the woman’s employer has subsequently developed a “horrible attitude” towards the employee threatening to fire her if she makes her “sick”. The employer also stopped the domestic worker from making her tea and will not let the woman near her room.

At the heart of such extreme reactions stigmatising those living with the virus, are fearful and paranoid attitudes to HIV stemming from a lack of knowledge.

If South Africans knew more about HIV they would know that it is extremely unlikely that it would be transmitted by a domestic worker going about her daily tasks.

Ultimately there is still much work to be done before disclosing one’s HIV status has as little impact on a person’s social standing and employment as diabetes does.