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First Ladies tackle HIV/AIDS stigma

    JOHANNESBURG

    A conference of African First Ladies said in Rwanda on Thursday that the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS had undermined efforts to provide care and support throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

    The two-day conference, called "United Against Stigma and Discrimination", said it aimed to "replace stigma with support, fear with hope, and shame and silence with solidarity".

    "Fear because testing positive is tantamount to a death sentence, and shame because the HIV mode of transmission is surrounded by taboo and moral judgement," Rwandan first lady, Janet Kagame, told the UN news service PlusNews.

    Rwanda has one of the highest infection rates in the region, with 13.5 percent of its 8.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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