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Focus on discrimination free society for PLWHA
KATHMANDU, DEC 25 - ‘Normal lives’ for the People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) was a consensus reached at the end of a three-day workshop on HIV/AIDS organised in the capital from December 21 to 23.
The realisation came as the participants, working closely with the members of Nepal Plus agreed that stigma and discrimination have pressed the PLWHA further into seclusion.
"The greatest problem for PLWHA is the difficulty of living a normal life after being exposed," said Ranendra K.C. of Nepal Plus. Widespread stigma and discrimination by family and community have disheartened the PLWHA, only to be further discriminated by negative representation in the media and due to other human right abuses, said K.C.
"When Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansa Acharya’s television drama on HIV/AIDS, "Raat", hit the air in mid-90s, the mention of AIDS in itself was a taboo,", Shrestha, co-director of the drama recalled.
Nepal has come a long way in the fight against HIV/AIDS since "Raat", as the people could see years later that celebrated comedian Santosh Pant embraced Geeta Lama, an HIV positive, relaying the message of love and goodwill with PLWHA. More importantly, although it is too early to state how much the symbolic gesture would help remove stigma and fear attached with HIV/AIDS, the message was unmistakably loud and clear that "HIV does not kill, stigma does."
The workshop was held following the realisation of the unique role media and artistes played in transforming the social attitude towards HIV/AIDS. "We know media can change and shape social attitude," said Claire Castillejo, Consultant for UNDP’s Regional HIV and Development Programme.
"The workshop has taken into account the necessity to change the individual’s attitude before they can address the needs of the society," said Castillejo. "The present challenges for artistes and media practitioners include kindling the new flame of hope by generating new meanings, metaphors, icons and images."While the formation of a new and better way of portrayal of PLWHA remains a common consent, the ways of doing so and the obstacles are yet to be addressed.Posted on: 2003-12-26 04:27
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