NAMIBIA: Suicides fuelled by stigma

Namibia's AIDS Law Unit on Friday expressed concern over the rate of stigma-related suicides.

Last month, a young HIV-positive mother, Ultrika Alexandrine Uiras committed suicide because of the discrimination she experienced, the local newspaper The Namibian reported on Thursday.

Uiras was the first Namibian woman to disclose her status in October 1999 and then marry her HIV-positive partner.

"AIDS-related stigma is rife in Namibia. There is still a long way to go before it is eradicated," AIDS Law Unit lawyer, Delme Cupido, told the UN news service PlusNews.

Cupido called on AIDS NGOs and support groups to step up their efforts by reaching out to victims of stigma.

"There are many suicides that occur daily because of AIDS-related stigma. These go unmentioned because they are not interesting enough," Cupido added.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Other,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]