Cultural barriers and fear of stigmatization and increasing HIV/AIDS in Somalia society

Cultural barriers and fear of stigmatization and increasing HIV/AIDS in Somalia society

The Somalia society is growing the on prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the society but they seem to ignore not concerned what is going on, they are like politicians, you may see our youth in every night overcrowded in social communication debate and analysis in the political, they are lost their precious time something it does not have the benefit, so I liked to change our youth think and to face them, our society health condition, that is my advice to youth, so we need to know the condition of our health society, because it the best to spend your time something that befits you or befits to your  community. 

The in community infected with HIV/ ADISS, in that infection not become a serious disease if they get Earlier diagnosis and treatment diagnosis and you get awareness health education but if they meet stigma from their community may be difficult for them to attend hospital because maybe I will get insulting some of people or nurse or So that nobody needs to go in hospital they infection victim prefer to stay in the home that leads to dead reason of infection, may try to hide, What they have Then they Spread infection other close individuals because  he doesn't know to prevent that disease.

HIV and AIDS-related stigma can lead to discrimination, for example, when people living with HIV are prohibited from traveling, using healthcare facilities or seeking employment.

Forms of HIV stigma and discrimination

HIV and AIDS-related stigma can lead to discrimination, for example, when people living with HIV are prohibited from traveling, using healthcare facilities or seeking employment. Internalized stigma Fear and reaction in the community have equal chance to damage in the mental and social well-being of people living HIV/ AIDS that may lead to breaks down the self-confidence to seek the medical care, and also this condition may cause mental health illness. The important thing   that we need know, 

internalized stigma

 affect the emotional person who has experienced or the victim may be losing a life situation (although one's objective life situation, housing, etc., may well be adversely affected), Negative self-judgment resulting in shame, worthlessness and blame represent an important but neglected aspect of living with HIV. Self-stigma affected a person's ability to live positively, limits meaningful self-agency, quality of life, and adherence to treatment and access to health services

Community and household level stigma 

Community-level stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV can force people may lead to leaving their   homes and an actives them may leave their family children and jobs regarding discrimination to looking for place to save and keep their life   in many girls and boys rejected their family and place in social belongings, the isolation that social rejection brings can lead to low self-esteem, depression, and even thoughts or acts of suicide.
 

Employment stigma

in the workplace, people living with HIV may suffer stigma from their co-workers and employers, such as social isolation and ridicule, or experience discriminatory practices, such as termination or refusal of employment.  Evidence from the People Living with HIV Stigma Index suggests that, in many countries, HIV-related stigma and discrimination are as frequently or more frequently a cause of unemployment or a denial of work opportunity as ill health

Healthcare stigma

It may happen to meet discrimination from the medical care and may be asked them a question that may affect mind like (are you sex workers) that like, that leads the patients to leave the hospital and care centers, In this condition still, the remain issue prevalence of some country around the world, the delay or deny treatment, demand additional payment for services and isolate people living with HIV from other patients. All these conditions you may meet them healthcare’s sections.

Number of people living with HIV in Somalia, the united nation section of   HIV/ADIS was estimated 30 000 [21 000 - 41 000] Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate 0.5% [0.3% - 0.7%] Adults aged 15 and over living with HIV27 000 [18 000 - 37 000] Women aged 15 and over living with HIV14 000 [9500 - 19 000] Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV3100 [2400 - 4000] Deaths due to AIDS2000 [1500 - 2700] Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 1725 000 [19 000 - 32 000   this estimate was done in 2015

So that I was introduction lets go see how our community affected HIV / Addis and their situation I will like to share and I will show inshallah many research was published in our community HIV-infection prevalence this research was done in mugdisho in 2013 it says.

Many thronged Banardir Hospital in Central Mogadishu for voluntary testing for HIV. This year’s HIV Aids Day theme in Somalia was “bridging the gap” after new figures showed an increase in new HIV infections. The rise in infections is being blamed on ignorance, cultural barriers, and fear of stigmatization, which hampers many people from finding out their HIV status. According to statistics from the Somalia National Aids Commission, Somalia has a total of 26,000 people living with HIV & AIDS with 51 percent of them being women. This figure includes those living in Southern Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland.

In 2013, 2,691 new cases were reported in south-central Somalia alone, while 980 was reported in Somaliland and 278 in Puntland. As part of this year’s campaign to deter new HIV infections, some 200-university students from Somalia University and Jazeera University between the ages of 19 to 23 received free screening at Banadir hospital. The campaign is targeting the youth because they are considered as the most vulnerable group.

Dr. Lul, head of Banadir hospital, which is one of the only two Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (VCT) in Mogadishu says her hospital is currently treating 300 HIV & AIDS patients who receive free treatment at the center. She urged Somalis to know their status and encouraged them to openly discuss the diseases so that more and more people can know about it.

In Somalia, HIV and Aids are still considered a taboo subject as is directly associated with promiscuity in a where country 99 percent of its population profess Islam. Health workers dealing with HIV & AIDS depend largely on those living with HIV to help them break these barriers.

Sahra a mother of 7 children is among those living with HIV & AIDS. She first knew of her HIV positive status 7 months ago. She is urging Somalis to go for HIV testing to know their status and has also called upon newlyweds to test for HIV before exchanging vows, to reduce chances of contracting the disease (“I contracted the disease in Mogadishu from my husband who was married to another woman. He infected me and so that is how I contracted the disease. After I realized am sick I went for an HIV test in a hospital in Mogadishu which referred me to Banadir hospital and that is how I started taking medication here,”) say  sahra

Mohamed, who is also living with HIV & AIDS and is the chairman of the umbrella for the people living with the disease in Somalia says since he openly came out about her status in 2006, he has managed to bring down some of the barriers that cause stigmatization against people living with HIV and AIDS.Ahmed, the Somalia National AIDS Commission chairman says new cases of HIV & AIDS is on the rise in Somalia and blames it on ignorance and cultural beliefs. He said this year’s World Aids Day celebrations are aimed at stemming the rise of new infections. “New infections are on the rise, yes because we get new positive cases almost every day but people still feel stigmatized and they fear coming out whenever they test positive, it is one of the main challenges and this is caused by stigmatization.”

 WA BILAH  TOWFIIQ


ADBIRAHMAN M. IBRHAIM 
 QORAXYARE143@GMAIL.COM