It is the last group you'd expect to discriminate against persons living with HIV and AIDS, but surprisingly medical professionals do harbor stigmas against the very people they are supposed to care for. Aware of the problem, the Ministry of Health organized a two part workshop as a response. They've enlisted the participation of senior nurses from hospitals and clinics that deal with HIV patients. The KHMH Sister Sherry Tenant-Jorgenson is one of the participants who says yes there is a problem and they are trying to fix it
Sherry Tenant-Jorgenson, KHMH
"I find that yes there is a certain level of discrimination. It has a lot to do with fear because yes the disease is here and we are working with it. We do work with it everyday but at the back of a lot of people's minds is this fear about the illness and the stigmatization that goes along with it. It is true that there is discrimination among our ourselves. But with this workshop we are planning to go back into our environment and share what we have learned because there will be a difference if we can instill in our colleagues that these people have done nothing to be discriminated against."