Search
  1. Home
  2. Africa

Stigma fuels HIV infection - Red Cross

    JOHANNESBURG

    The stigma associated with HIV/AIDS has helped increase global infection rates, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Thursday.

    The Federation said HIV infection continued to rise even after 20 years of the pandemic because of the stigmatisation and marginalisation of people living with HIV/AIDS.

    "The world is losing the battle against HIV/AIDS. Each year, more people die ... stigma and misinformation is killing people," the Federation's president, Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro, said in a statement.

    Suárez del Toro criticised faith-based organisations who condemn the use of condoms and other proven measures of reducing HIV infection.

    "These organisations are acting irresponsibly by providing misleading information about HIV/AIDS. We already know safe sex works," Dr Massimo Barra of the Italian Red Cross confirmed.

    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

    Share this article

    Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

    We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

    Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

    Become a member of The New Humanitarian

    Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

    Join