Public Service PS Dr Jane Kere Imbunya with Medical Services PS Dr Ouma Oluga/ photo: X
Stigma and discrimination of people with syndemic diseases
like HIV are still a major challenge in the public service sector, hence affecting
productivity.
This was affirmed during the launch of the public service
workplace policy on HIV/AIDS and other syndemic diseases, where panellists regretted
enduring discrimination and isolation after colleagues learnt about their
health status.
55-year-old Anne Okaro, a teacher employed by the Teachers Service Commission for 36 years, confirmed being discriminated against by fellow
teachers when they learnt that she was HIV positive.
“Fellow teachers sidelined me; none of them wanted to
associate with me, they could not sit with me, and some even openly refused to use
the same cups I used. This was done despite being an administrator in the school
where teachers had to go through me before they went to the school heads for anything,”
she said.
She said that she had to answer so many questions, even from
the pupils, about how she acquired the virus. “Were promiscuous?” Some asked.
This is an experience, she said, she would not want anyone in
the public service to go through because it is very demoralising.
She appreciated the launch of this policy as timely and good
for the public sector workforce, who are often forgotten in the mental health discussions.
“It is a very great day because of launching this policy
through the National Syndemic Disease Control, it is really a step for us
living with HIV in the public sector and even among the participants.
Initially, it was not easy to get somebody to come boldly and talk about it, but
I can proudly say that through the empowerment of my employer, the Teacher
Service Commission, I can boldly stand and talk about my HIV status to the
public,” she said.
“Moreover, having a
psycho support group for the people living with HIV and just integrating these
other non-communicable diseases makes it a little less stigma-free because when
we started this journey, it was about HIV alone, but now we have the syndemic
diseases, so it really makes it easier.”
She called on the Public Service Commission to leverage
capacity building and intentional sensitisation of all people working in the public
service to create awareness about HIV/AIDS and other syndemic diseases for
proper understanding to prevent discrimination and isolation.
“Use some of us champions commissioned by the Teacher
Service Commission to give that thumbs up and support to the other sectors so
that they can rise, and we fight this stigma. It’s not the disease, but it is a
stigma. Have cross-cutting interventions in all the sectors, the public sector,
that can speak to each other,” she said.