Need to erase AIDS stigma - Deputy President

There is an urgent need to erase the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS, South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma has said, as secrecy and shame often prevented people from acknowledging their HIV status. During the recent World AIDS Day commemorations, Zuma commented that stigma was fuelled by poor understanding of the pandemic, prejudice and sensationalist media reporting, social fears about sexuality, and fears relating to AIDS-related illness and death. A local newspaper, Business Day, quoted Zuma as saying: "We must make a concerted effort to remove the stigma ... This should start with an acknowledgement and acceptance that anyone can contract HIV - it does not discriminate in terms of gender, geographical location, the length of a relationship with a particular partner, or social status of the partner."